As NASCAR has taken a weekend off before the long stretch run of continual racing, it’s given us time to ponder the recent change in brand sponsorship from tobacco giant Winston to cellular giant Nextel. That will of course bring some name changes to a long tradition. The Winston Cup will become the Nextel Cup. Doesn’t sound quite right does it?
But maybe it was time for a change. After all it has been a while since we’ve seen a photo of a driver puffing on a victory row cigarette. Though there may be drivers and pit crew who use the smokeless nicotine hit, we haven’t seen that on the tube either. With political correctness invading even the sports world, that should be no surprise. NASCAR was due for an image change, and tobacco just doesn’t have the money or appeal it did when the Winston Cup started on tobacco road.
But Nextel? How long before we see Jeff Gordon commercials of him driving with a cell phone? How long before we see a promotion for the phones with built in-camera taking a picture at the finish line of Daytona? It seems an odd union to match auto racing with an industry that is under increasing pressure to improve the distraction and danger of driving while using its product.
It seems there must have been a better choice out there somewhere in corporate America. How about the Microsoft cup? No, that wouldn’t work, too many jokes about crashes and rebooting a race after a rain delay.
Perhaps the Sonic Cup? Well that could lead to some interesting additions to the racing such as pit crews on roller skates and drivers pulling in to get the trophy dropped in their car on victory row. So maybe that’s not the best idea either.
Barnes and Noble? Oh, no the idea of the drivers listening to the latest Danielle Steele novel on tape as they drive probably wouldn’t go over so well.
Or NBC? That sounds good, a major network, guaranteed race coverage on a network that everyone receives. Its worked for Monday Night Football on ABC. Then again, it would open up the can of worms that surprise wins and tight points battles might be orchestrated by the sponsor and we’ve had enough of that. So we’ll have to move on.
Taco Bell. Now that could be fun to watch. The little dog in the back window of the cars. Races would certainly be quicker if the drivers ate a few Meximelts before they took off to circle the track.
I guess there just isn’t a great match with one of the most popular sports leagues on the market, so Nextel is as good as any. Besides at least we’ll be able to get automated text mail to out phones letting us know who’s winning the race and giving us live pictures from the pits and the winner’s circle.

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