Post by catfan52 on Mar 16, 2007 20:45:02 GMT -5
HAMPTON, Ga. – Robby Gordon has lost his second primary sponsor for his Nextel Cup team is as many weeks.
Gordon had obtained a partial sponsorship, including this weekend’s race at Atlanta, from Motorola but NASCAR refused to allow Gordon to keep the sponsor decals on his No. 7 Ford Friday because of a conflict with series sponsor Sprint Nextel.
Although Motorola has a relationship with Sprint Nextel, it was through Motorola’s relationship with wireless competitor Verizon that the sponsorship deal was made.
“It’s going to have an effect on our race team. I didn’t anticipate anything like this, I can promise you that,” Gordon said.
“NASCAR has tried to work with us on this. Supposedly this has to do with NASCAR’s deal with Nextel and there is something there which will not allow this to happen.”
NASCAR officials said they informed Gordon the sponsor was not allowed on Thursday. As of noon Friday the team had still not removed the Motorola decals from the car but planned to do so before Cup qualifying Friday night.
Gordon did not have sponsorship on his Cup car last weekend at Las Vegas after former sponsor Harrah’s opted not to return.
Gordon had obtained a partial sponsorship, including this weekend’s race at Atlanta, from Motorola but NASCAR refused to allow Gordon to keep the sponsor decals on his No. 7 Ford Friday because of a conflict with series sponsor Sprint Nextel.
Although Motorola has a relationship with Sprint Nextel, it was through Motorola’s relationship with wireless competitor Verizon that the sponsorship deal was made.
“It’s going to have an effect on our race team. I didn’t anticipate anything like this, I can promise you that,” Gordon said.
“NASCAR has tried to work with us on this. Supposedly this has to do with NASCAR’s deal with Nextel and there is something there which will not allow this to happen.”
NASCAR officials said they informed Gordon the sponsor was not allowed on Thursday. As of noon Friday the team had still not removed the Motorola decals from the car but planned to do so before Cup qualifying Friday night.
Gordon did not have sponsorship on his Cup car last weekend at Las Vegas after former sponsor Harrah’s opted not to return.