EARNHARDT’S DEPARTURE PUTS
BRAKES ON BUD ENDORSEMENT
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s defection from longtime family racing team Dale
Earnhardt Inc. means that Budweiser is losing one of its most recognizable
drivers.
Earnhardt Jr., who reportedly left DEI over a conflict with his stepmother,
Theresa Earnhardt, is also losing his #8 car along with his longtime
sponsor in order to join Hendrick Motorsports, where, ironically, he
replaces Kerry Busch.
With Hendrick having long-term commitments already in place at the
time of the signing, according to team owner Rick Hendrick, Earnhardt
Jr.’s sponsor simply can’t break into the fold.
On June 13, Earnhardt Jr. signed on to race for Hendrick Motorsports
beginning in 2008, but primary sponsorship of his team remains undecided.
No timetable has been established for an announcement.
“Budweiser has sponsored Dale Jr. for nearly a decade, and we wish
him the very best,” said Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and
sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “Budweiser will remain an
active sponsor of NASCAR, and we look forward to building upon the
legacy of the iconic Budweiser red car in 2008 and
beyond.”
“To climb into that red Budweiser car each weekend
has always been a privilege,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
“Although Budweiser and I will be unable to continue
our partnership beyond this season, I remain committed
to driving for Bud the rest of this year, and will
continue to make it my beer of choice.”
With only a year gap in place for Budweiser, and
Earnhardt Jr. one of the sport’s top drivers – as well
as its most recognizable one – it’s highly unlikely that
he’ll sit out of the red for too long.
DEALBOARD
Summertime
Romance Edition
Remember sitting in the
cabin at camp talking about
who you liked but getting caught sneaking out by the
counselor on-duty? That’s what happened in mid summer,
when it appeared that Coke might be trying to
find out if it could arrange a meeting with Snapple after
its parent company, Cadbury Schweppes, sells off
its beverage brands to a private equity prince.
Meanwhile, PepsiCo, which has been out of the
game this year after a very busy 2006, has apparently
developed a taste for European food and beverage conglomerates,
as it reportedly sent moony love signals to
both Groupe Danone and Nestle in the first half of
the year.
Regardless, until someone actually asks someone
else out, everyone’s staying single.
BEER FOR
MY HORSES,
LICENSED
WATER
PRODUCTS
FOR ME...
He’s got his own whiskey,
and now apparently Willie
Nelson needs a little something
to chase a shot with. So
welcome to the debut of Willie
Nelson Spring Water, put
out by Simpson Distributing
LLC. Bottled in the Ozarks,
the product is wrapped in a
label featuring the grand old
man and his tour bus. For
more info, check out www.willienelsonspringwater.com.