Greg Biffle Fan Forum

Ford Drivers => Rumors => Topic started by: MARKW6 on July 15, 2007, 02:18:21 am



Title: No BUD for JR.
Post by: MARKW6 on July 15, 2007, 02:18:21 am
JOLIET, Ill. -- Seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. is seeing red. From his driving suit to his ball cap to his transporter to his racecar, he's absolutely immersed in the fire-engine hue of the only primary sponsor he's ever known. The color and the product it represents have become as synonymous with NASCAR's most popular driver as his last name, his 5 o'clock shadow, and his North Carolina twang.

How strange it will seem next year, when the ongoing transformation of Earnhardt Jr. will include new corporate colors. A full stable of sponsors for 2008 at Hendrick Motorsports will force Earnhardt to split with longtime backer Budweiser when he moves to the sport's top team next season. And a productive eight-year relationship that helped form much of Earnhardt's public identity will come to an end.

 "That's part of my life," Earnhardt said Friday at Chicagoland Speedway, site of Sunday's USG Sheetrock 400. "The relationship I have with Budweiser and the partnership that we've had for all these years is a big chunk of my life that will always be very memorable to me. They will always be a huge part of that success and the races that we've won. When I look back on it in four years from now, I expect it to be really positive."

Hendrick's current sponsor lineup -- DuPont, Lowe's, Kellogg's, GMAC and the National Guard -- are all slated to return next season, leaving no room for even a successful, high-profile company like Budweiser. The brand has appeared on Hendrick cars before, backing the rides of Ken Schrader, Ricky Craven and Wally Dallenbach. But it won't grace the vehicle of a driver who took it to new heights.

"We have agreements in place with sponsors for the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, which prevent us from having a relationship with Budweiser," team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement, using the name the circuit will take next year. "Honoring our commitments is important to us. The trade-off is missing an opportunity to bring Budweiser, a marquee brand synonymous with NASCAR and its fans, into the fold."

Earnhardt's association with the brewery will be completely severed after this season. A personal services agreement with Anheuser-Busch that was scheduled to run through 2008 will also end after this year. That means no more Budweiser commercials featuring a driver whose connection with the beer company served as a cornerstone of his rock-and-roll identity.

"I'll miss a lot about the whole deal," he said. "They had a great marketing campaign, a lot of great guys who work over there. Hopefully I'll still have those friendships, but you'll miss the working relationship, for sure. Shoot, we've been together for a long time. There's a lot about that partnership I'm going to miss. The national sales convention, typically for 80 percent or 90 percent of the sponsors in this garage, they're probably not a whole lot of fun to go to. But the Budweiser one is great."

Although his new sponsor -- believed to be a PepsiCo brand -- hasn't been announced yet, Earnhardt is already eager to get a look at designs for his new car's paint scheme, his firesuit, and souvenir apparel. And he wants to be as comfortable with the new company as he was with the old one.



Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: Highflying9916 on July 15, 2007, 08:34:17 am
Thanks for posting. I really think he wanted to start all over next year with a clean slate. I think it will be pespi.


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: roushbiff6 on July 15, 2007, 05:29:56 pm
My guess is it will be Pepsi/Mountain Dew or Gatorade! Thanks for the post!


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: Jeni on August 29, 2007, 01:25:33 am
I'm wondering who will be on the car too.   This way when the new stuff comes out, I can find it for my brother, the Junior fan.

And he, along with my father, are both okay with Mark Martin being behind the wheel of the 8 next year.  :)


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: roushbiff6 on August 29, 2007, 01:27:22 am
Me too. Mark in the eight! ;D
Mountain Dew or Pepsi!


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: nctnroushfan on August 29, 2007, 09:19:50 pm
That's my guess also is Mountain Dew or Pepsi,as Pepsi is already a longtime Hendrick sponsor.


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: Highflying9916 on August 29, 2007, 09:29:41 pm
Yeah Pespi is mine


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: moen15 on August 30, 2007, 01:07:20 pm
A Mountain Dew car would be really cool to see! :)


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: Highflying9916 on September 02, 2007, 12:57:57 am
almost like Cole Tricle. Mello Yello


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: roushbiff6 on September 02, 2007, 03:11:04 am
Mello Yello is Coke, it wouldn't happen!  :D


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: Highflying9916 on September 02, 2007, 06:20:16 pm
Almost though! ;D


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: roushbiff6 on September 03, 2007, 03:19:32 am
Mountain Dew and Amp Energy Drink at Earnhardt, Jr's Sponsors?: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports are expected to announce later this month Pepisco Inc. products Mountain Dew and Amp energy drink are his primary sponsors for next season, sources confirmed Sunday.(ESPN.com)(9-3-2007)
~From Jayski


Title: Re: No BUD for JR.
Post by: Highflying9916 on September 03, 2007, 01:05:57 pm
Thanks for posting. Man hes the liquid guy!