Carmichael to bring sponsors

Ginn Racing is finalizing a deal that is expected to put Ricky Carmichael's chief Supercross sponsor, Monster Energy Drink, on the car for his first stock car race this weekend.

When Monster in January 2006 signed a reported two-year deal with Carmichael, widely regarded as the Michael Jordan of motorcycle racing, its marketers had no idea he would be driving a vehicle with four wheels instead of two. But the move to stock car racing and possibly NASCAR broadens the audience for Monster, the No. 2 energy drink in sales behind Red Bull.

"What we like is it takes one of our personalities over to the more mainstream, corporate side of the world with Ricky's NASCAR involvement," said Scott Sepkovic, president and CEO of Crown Athlete Management Group, the procurement agency for Monster. "We want to stay on board and follow Ricky." Sporting News