Is AT&T ready to hang up on NASCAR?
The telecommunications turf war that raged throughout much of 2007 between AT&T and series sponsor Sprint supposedly was settled last September with an agreement — mediated by NASCAR — that allowed AT&T to keep its marks on Jeff Burton's No. 31 car. In exchange, AT&T agreed to leave Sprint Cup, NASCAR's top series, after the 2008 season.
But that hasn't stopped team owner Richard Childress from lobbying NASCAR to keep AT&T in Cup racing, sources say, and Sprint's continuing financial woes are only adding to the sense that AT&T's sponsorship might not be dead yet.
Also, AT&T is in the first year of a three-year contract with Richard Childress Racing to sponsor the No. 31 car, and there are no exit provisions or refunds for AT&T in the deal, sources said, which obligates AT&T for the sponsorship fee through the 2010 season. AT&T agreed to the deal last June before the settlement was reached with NASCAR and Sprint in September. The deal between AT&T and Childress did not require NASCAR's approval.
If it eventually leaves, AT&T has said it will work with Childress to find new sponsorship. AT&T's annual costs for the sponsorship are believed to be $16 million to $18 million.
RCR officials said they've had no formal talks with AT&T about its plans beyond this season and offered no further comment. NASCAR reiterated that the door is not open for AT&T's return.
"Nothing has changed," said Ramsey Poston, NASCAR's managing director of communications. "The fans certainly don't want to hear any more of this. This is a closed issue. Agreements were made, and we expect all sides to live up to them." More at Scenedaily.com