#31 shows up at Bristol without AT&T logos

[James J.]

Wow, how weird is it to see the #31 car running around the track without primary sponsor logos?!!!!
One has to wonder just how long AT&T and NASCAR will go at it in the courts and how it will all play out.  Should NEXTEL be successful in purging AT&T from the sport I wonder who RCR has lined up to take the primary sponsor spot.  I don't know, but does Prilosec still sponsor the #31? I didn't see them on the RCR website, but then the RCR site doesn't really go into any great lengths to showoff it's sponsors.  Would Holiday Inn step up from the Busch series?

The whole sponsorship situation has to be a bit distracting and especially annoying to Richard Childress.  Remember, there was even an issue from Sunoco complaining about the size of the Shell logo on the #29 car.
What a headache for the entire RCR gang.

[KurtBuschFan]

I don't see what the big deal is about the sponsor crap anyways.  They're all gonna get their money.  It's so stupid and greedy to be complaining about something like that.

[flamehothead]

I don't see what the big deal is about the sponsor crap anyways.  They're all gonna get their money.  It's so stupid and greedy to be complaining about something like that.

I totally agree KBF.

Personally I think what Nextel did was just as bad when they went from Nextel to Sprint.

I wonder if it would be any different if AT&T/Cingular left Nascar and then came back as a new sponsor because Nascar had Sunoco as an Official Sponsor but they have allowed Shell to join and they are both Fuel Suppliers. I mean sure Nascar made RCR reduce the size of the decals but was that really necessary.

Everyone knows who Nextel/Sprint, Cingular/AT&T, Verizon, Alltell, and now you even have Time Warner in the mix with the Pivot so why not let them all play? There are TWO things that could be GOOD for Nascar/Sprint and that is there getting rid of Cingular and not alot of people know about AT&T's Cellphone service............the people who don't watch racing lol.

[smyler]

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2991180&campaign=rss&source=RPMHeadlines

Childress hopes cooler heads can prevail and a resolution can be reached between NASCAR and AT&T that would enable him to retain AT&T as a sponsor. He said all four parties -- NASCAR, Sprint, RCR and AT&T -- share responsibility in making that happen.

"There's got to be some give and take," he said. "You sit back and look -- at the end of the day it has to be a case of Sprint and AT&T trying to figure a way that they can both live in the same world."

He feels they've already proven it can happen.

"Let me give you an example: AT&T has been on the car for 14 weeks, and all the media [attention] has been on the Chase. That's Sprint's deal. They're getting plenty of value out of the Chase," he said. "And AT&T is over here marketing Jeff Burton. The world didn't stop when we put it on the car the first week.

"There's room for all of us. It isn't like AT&T bought Cingular. They owned Cingular anyway. They're just re-branding it. To find a way where all of us can survive in this world it would be good for RCR, good for the sport."

Childress wouldn't specify how this development affects his company financially, but did stress that RCR is financially stable.

[Chris]

well.... I wouldn't be so surprised that the #31 showed up without any sponsor logos...
In fact,...  I'd kinda EXPECT that to happen.  Basically their hands are tied until the matter comes before the courts again, and thats not supposed to be until Sept. 18th (I believe).  SO that means this week AND next week he would be sponsorless

I get the sense Childress has started making the statement

"It's in Sprint's hands...NASCAR is being controlled by what Sprint is going to let them do"

because he sees they are in a vinerable position now,.. and he is trying to "make up".  Of course it's in Sprints hands, and always has been.  I seriously doubt if they went THIS far to keep AT&T out, they are going to all of a sudden back up and let them race.

NOW.... funny to me how Childress say the above,.. but in another statement he said he won't sue Nascar (after all you can sh*t where you eat)... but he did imply he WOULD sue Sprint.  SO who knows.. maybe it's all just 'posturing' and one trying to get the other play along.

[James J.]

UPDATE: AT&T, NASCAR and Sprint apparently have settled the lawsuit involving the primary sponsorship logos on the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. With NASCAR approval, the AT&T logos were being put on the car of Jeff Burton on Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway. Details of the settlement were not immediately released.(SceneDaily.com)(9-7-2007)

Good news for RCR, Burton & AT&T.
The globe is back on the car for Richmond.

[Bryan Blanton]

I wonder how they settled it?

[Bryan Blanton]

Did at&t say something about sueing either nascar or sprint for damages i remember hearing something about this a few months ago.

[Bryan Blanton]

I seen this on another message board i posted on. At&t can sponsor jeff burton's car until the end of 2008 and than after 2008 his team will have to get a new sponsor.

Also nascar decided to drop their lawsuit of 100 million dollars  against at&t.

[flamehothead]

Good news for RCR, Burton & AT&T.
The globe is back on the car for Richmond.

It's Good New's until the end of 2008 then AT&T has to leave the Cup series but it can move to a lower series.

Here is the whole story from JAYSKI.com.

AT&T logos back on the #31 Chevy UPDATE 2: on SPEED's NASCAR Live Friday, Bob Dilner reported and it was shown at Richmond International Raceway, the AT&T decals are back on the #31 Chevy that Jeff Burton driver for Richard Childress Racing, no word on details...yet.
UPDATE: AT&T, NASCAR and Sprint apparently have settled the lawsuit involving the primary sponsorship logos on the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevy. With NASCAR approval, the AT&T logos were being put on the car of Jeff Burton on Friday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway. Details of the settlement were not immediately released.(SceneDaily.com)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR, Sprint Nextel, AT&T and Richard Childress Racing have agreed to end the legal dispute over branding of the #31 car. The agreement immediately permits AT&T to continue as primary sponsor of the #31 car, using the AT&T name and logos, through the 2008 season. “This agreement represents compromise from all sides that ultimately serves the sport well,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “No one likes litigation, most of all the NASCAR fans, and it was time to find a mutually agreeable resolution. We’re now happy to move forward with the exciting conclusion of the season as we approach the Chase for the Nextel Cup.”
“This is a great solution for NASCAR, the fans, Richard Childress Racing and Sprint Nextel,” said Tim Kelly, chief marketing officer for Sprint. “We accomplished our ultimate goal of protecting our unique position with NASCAR while giving the #31 team ample time to transition to a new sponsor. We will continue to focus on bringing new and unique innovations to NASCAR fans for the betterment of the sport.”
“We’re very pleased to have the AT&T logos back on the #31 Chevrolet and to have AT&T continue as a primary sponsor for Jeff Burton and Richard Childress Racing,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We’re excited to have AT&T back on the car for Richmond and that they will continue to be a big part of what we do,” said Jeff Burton, driver, RCR’s #31 AT&T Chevrolet. “Now we can move forward and concentrate on winning races and competing for the championship.”
“This agreement is the right step taken at the right time. It provides a clear path forward for the sport and its fans, for Richard Childress Racing and Jeff Burton, and for AT&T, which can use its brand on the #31 Car,” said Dave Garver, executive director of business development and wireless sponsorships for AT&T’s wireless unit.(NASCAR PR)
AND Garver said at the end of 2008, AT&T must leave the Cup Series. He said the telecommunications company could stay in the sport in a lower series.(Associated Press)(9-7-2007)

[PlanoHarvickFan]

As I've said in the past, as tough as it has been to get sponsorship in the last few years, I'd think NASCAR would want anyone who wants to spend the big bucks to be around....Just my opinion

[Bryan Blanton]

What i don't get is why would at&t even accept this deal in the first place? Maybe they were told they had a serious chance of losing their battle with nascar - nextel - sprint?

And so maybe they decided to take this deal?

Or maybe there was some other issue?

[Chris]

well actually they had already LOST...
they was just hoping for a reversal on an appeal...
Facts is they lost by a panel of judges 3-0.  If the vote had been 2-1 then I think maybe they would of been more inclined to fight it out more... but to sway two opinions to your side out of three,.. thats a real long shot.
Best to cut your losses if you can work a deal.