DuPont division sale won’t affect sponsorship of Jeff Gordon in 2013

DuPont’s sale of its automotive paint division will not affect the brand’s sponsorship of Jeff Gordon in 2013, spokesperson Jon Edwards confirmed Friday.

Questions about Gordon’s sponsorship arose last August when private equity firm the Carlyle Group announced it would acquire DuPont Performance Coatings for $4.9 billion. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013.

“DuPont Performance Coatings, LLC. will be the primary sponsor on the No. 24 Chevrolet SS for 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in 2013. CromaxPro, a DuPont Performance Coatings, LLC. product, will be featured as a major associate in all remaining races," Edwards said in an email Friday. DuPont was also the primary sponsor for 14 races last year.

According to Edwards the No. 24 DuPont car paint scheme and schedule will be made available in the near future. AARP Drive to End Hunger (22 races) and Pepsi Max (two races) paint schemes, with CromaxPro in an associate sponsor spot, have already been released.

The sponsorship commitment ends after the 2013 season.