Once again, NASCAR will be looking to find a sponsor for one of its series. This time it is the top racing series currently known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series that will be known by a new name as Sprint announced that it will be not returning as the series entitlement sponsor in 2017.
“NASCAR and Sprint have enjoyed a long and productive partnership that has returned significant value to both parties,” said NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Brett Jewkes in a press release. “We understand significant changes within Sprint and the highly competitive business environment it is in has led to a decision not to extend its Cup Series entitlement position following the 2016 season. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is a very unique, premium sports marketing platform with strong momentum, so we are very confident of moving forward in 2017 with an outstanding new partner. In the meantime, we look forward to Sprint’s partnership on the best racing series in the world for the next two seasons.”
NASCAR first leased naming rights to the top series in 1971 when the series was called the Winston Cup Series. The name changed to NEXTEL Cup Series from 2004-2007 when the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was replaced by NEXTEL as the series sponsor. Sprint acquired NEXTEL in 2005 and the series was renamed to the present NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008.
This coming season NASCAR’s other stock car racing series will be known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series after Nationwide Insurance ended their seven year entitlement sponsorship following the 2014 season. The naming of the series is for the Comcast Corporation’s cable subsidiary, XFINITY.
Back in May, NASCAR announced an extension to the entitlement of the Truck Series with Camping World for another seven years. The deal extends the title sponsorship rights for the series to Camping World, which signed on in 2009, through 2022.