Caterpillar to take over for AT&T at RCR

UPDATE This rumor can probably be upgraded to 'fact' with this Bill Davis Racing announcement that they are losing Caterpillar as a sponsor.

06/18/08 With AT&T's NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship coming to an end, Richard Childress Racing has found a replacement sponsor for Jeff Burton.

FOXSports.com has learned that Caterpillar has agreed to become the primary sponsor of the No. 31 Chevrolet driven by Burton beginning next season. The deal, which is expected to be announced on Wednesday, is a multi-year agreement.

Burton has 20 career victories, including one this season at Bristol Motor Speedway. He is currently second in the Cup series standings.

Based on an agreement reached by AT&T and NASCAR last year, the telecommunications giant had to give up their sponsorship deal at the end of this season. The agreement came after a protracted legal battle between AT&T and Sprint after Sprint phased out the Cingular brand — one of two brands which were grandfathered in when Sprint (formerly Nextel) took over sponsor rights for the Cup Series. FOX Sports