AT&T vs. NASCAR/SprintNEXTEL

NASCAR has it's head somewhere where it doesn't belong. NASCAR is attempting to sue AT&T to block AT&T from car sponsorship in the NEXTEL Cup. As title sponsor, NEXTEL most likely is pressuring NASCAR to prohibit competitors from sponsoring, or else Sprint/NEXTEL will pull the plug on the official sponsor of the Cup series.

That sends a great message to companies who are looking at sponsoring in a racing atmosphere. "Sure, go ahead and sponsor a car. Oh, it conflicts with OUR official series sponsor. Take your $100+ million elsewhere. We don't want you here."

I can understand NEXTEL not wanting competitors, but remember, it's the NEXTEL Cup. Not the Champion Spark Plug Cup or Whoever-comes-along Cup. They have the title naming rights. If Jeff Burton or Ryan Newman win, it's still going to be the NEXTEL Cup.

I look at it this way: If NASCAR is successful in removing AT&T from racing, it opens a precedent to remove ALL competing sponsors throughout all NASCAR series. For a list of Official Sponsors of NASCAR, click here.

It's a long list, but here are some highlights that NASCAR might want to take a look at. And for now we'll ignore cars vs. cars, like T. Stewart's Home Depot Chevy vs. J. Johnson's Lowes Home Improvement Chevy.

Official Sponsors

Allstate (Official Insurance)
Geico Insurance in Busch Series
Best Western (Official Hotel)
Holiday Inn in Busch Series
Budweiser (Official Beer)
Miller Lite car, Miller Lite race sponsor (at least there used to be)
Chevrolet (Monte Carlo) (Official Pace Car, Official Passenger Car)
Ford, Dodge, Toyota all have competing models.
Coca-Cola (Official Soft Drink)
Pepsi at tracks and associate sponsors, Pepsi 400 race
Dodge Charger (Official Passenger Car)
See Chevrolet above
Old Spice (Official Antiperspirant & Deodorant)
I just want to say: huh? how much did that cost?
Sprint NEXTEL (Official Series Sponsor)
Point of argument: Alltel and AT&T/Cingular
The Home Depot (Official Home Improvement Warehouse)
Lowes Car & Lowes Motor Speedway
Toyota (Official Partner/Manufacturer)
Wow.
Tylenol (Official Pain Reliever of NASCAR)
Goody's sponsor the #43
UPS (Official Delivery Service)
FedEx #11 car

Promotional Partners
Gulfstream (NASCAR Prefers Gulfstream)
So that's what my membership buys? Mike Helton's Gulfstream?