NASCAR hearing over injunction set for Aug. 2

The U.S. Court of Appeals hearing over the injunction allowing the use of the AT&T logos on the #31 Richard Childress Racing car is scheduled for Aug. 2 in Atlanta, but NASCAR would like the schedule moved up, a spokesman says. NASCAR has filed its appeal briefs and has asked the court for a hearing as soon as possible, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Friday. "We filed our briefs well in advance of the deadlines," Poston said. "This is an important case and certainly would like the court's consideration to further expedite the hearing." U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Shoob ruled May 18 that NASCAR couldn't prohibit RCR from switching the Cingular logos to the AT&T logos on the car driven by Jeff Burton. NASCAR wants to prohibit the logos as part of its exclusivity agreement with series sponsor Sprint Nextel. In issuing the injunction, the judge ruled that the licensing agreement and grandfather clause that RCR signed with NASCAR does not prohibit the change in logos. SceneDaily.com