Teams without sponsors

[Jonesi]

NASCAR feeling pinch of struggling U.S. economy

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/tom_bowles/01/15/sponsors/index.html

[RaceFanStan]

Tom Bowles seems to me to be a bit of an alarmist ...
yes, #4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports CLOSED due to NO Sponsor (however they WEREN'T running up front) ...
but I am sure the #28 & #38 Yates Racing Fords WILL get sponsors ...
I think the Haas Racing #66 & #70 Chevrolets could be effected because of Haas' legal issues ...

Team Owners who hire openwheel drivers for their NASCAR teams do take a chance but ...
#40-Chip Ganassi hired Dario Franchitti, the current IRL champion should be able to draw a sponsor ...
#10-Ray Evernham hired Patrick Carpentier, Carpentier should be able to draw a sponsor ...
#27-Bill Davis hired Jacques Villeneuve, a Formula 1 & CART champion should be able to draw a sponsor ...

Some of the backmarker teams will have trouble getting sponsors just because they don't run up front ... :s
sponsors want exposure & racing for wins is what it takes to get GOOD exposure ...
whacking the wall or getting in everyone's way is BAD exposure ...
sponsors "pay the bills" & they are right to expect results ! http://www.motorsportforum.com/forums/images/icons/tongue-anim.gif

[BobGarage]

#40-Chip Ganassi hired Dario Franchitti, the current IRL champion should be able to draw a sponsor ...

why? the IRL struggles to draw sponsors that aren't owned by Honda. So why would being champion of that series make it any easier?



#10-Ray Evernham hired Patrick Carpentier, Carpentier should be able to draw a sponsor ...
Carpentier was a players driver for many years. since they dropped out fo racing over tobacco sponsorship laws he hasn't had major sponsorship backing from anyone.



#27-Bill Davis hired Jacques Villeneuve, a Formula 1 & CART champion should be able to draw a sponsor ...
Jacques was the winner of the last indy 500 that mattered and was a CART champion, along with his F1 honours.

[Jonesi]

Here's the teams with no or little sponsorship

In 'Top 35'
17th OP 01 REGAN SMITH - DEI (Coors Light rumored)
26th " 40 DARIO FRANCHITTI - GANASSI
30th " 28 TRAVIS KVAPIL - DOUG YATES
31st " 66 SCOTT RIGGS - JOE CUSTER (State Waterheaters partial?)
32nd " 38 DAVID GILLILAND - DOUG YATES
33rd " 70 JEREMY MAYFIELD - JOE CUSTER (HAAS/ATLAS COPCO partial)

Not in 'Top 35'
37th " 10 PATRICK CARPENTIER - GEM (VALVOLINE?)
39th " 00 DAVID REUTIMANN - MWR (AARON'S?)
44th " 27 JACQUES VILLENEUVE - BILL DAVIS
45th " 4 M Wallace?/PJ Jones? MORGAN/McCLURE (now closed)

DEI, Ganassi, & GEM can probably afford to to run an un/under sponsored car for at least awhile (7 to 10 races), Waltrip & Davis less so. Yates & Haas each with two unsponsored cars, could really be hurting soon after Daytona if sponsors aren't found. I wouldn't be surprised to see Cup down to 45 full time teams by mid April.

[Osella]

Well, the #10 has Valvoline continuing to back them this season so it would appear (they do co-own the team).
The #00 has Aaron's for the first 5 races I believe
The #66 took State Water heaters from the #4 as a full-time primary sponsor "State Water Heaters has signed a multiyear contract to sponsor the Haas CNC Racing Sprint Cup cars. The company will be the primary sponsor for the #66 Chevy driven by Scott Riggs for all of the 2008 races, according to a team spokesperson." And may appear as a part-time primary on the #70.
Apparently Haas' incarceration will not affect the business or race team.
The #01 has a 2-race deal with Principal Financial.

[RaceFanStan]

Here is what I have found so far :

IN the Top 35 in OWNER’S POINTS :
17th #01 Regan Smith - Steak-umm will be the sponsor @ Richmond in May (1 race ONLY)
(Coor’s Light is rumored to be coming but nothing is inked)

26th #40 Dario Franchitti - Canadian Club, Energizer & Tums are all rumored

30th #28 Travis Kvapil - Nothing Rumored

31st #66 Scott Riggs - State Water Heaters rumored to be the sponsor for 15+ races

32nd #38 David Gilliland - Nothing Rumored

33rd -#70 Jeremy Mayfield - Nothing Rumored

NOT in the Top 35 in OWNER’S POINTS :
37th #10 Patrick Carpentier – Valvoline is rumored (& a likely possibility)
(How many races Valvoline would want to be the primary sponsor is unclear)

39th #00 David Reutimann - Aaron's for the 1st 5 races ONLY is rumored

44th #27 Jacques Villeneuve – Nothing Rumored

45th #4 Mike Wallace was to be @ Daytona ONLY but they have CLOSED
(IF a sponsor signs-on, Larry McClure says they will be back)

[Osella]

"Haas CNC Racing announced it has entered into a multi-year, global, business-to-business partnership with State Water Heaters to be a primary sponsor of the #66 with Scott Riggs. The program also includes primary placement for select races with Jeremy Mayfield on the #70 and an associate sponsorship position on both cars for the full 2008 season"