DEI to lose Budweiser sponsorship too
"The company is always looking for good long-term relationships,'' said Darryl Jackson, the vice president of sales for Chrysler. "Budweiser or whoever is a very, very solid brand. It brings with it a very good clientele base of which just so happens to line up with us pretty well from a Dodge perspective."
Kahne is Budweiser's top choice to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr., who recently announced he would not keep the beer company as his primary sponsor at Hendrick Motorsports in 2008 and that he was ending his personal services deal.
One of the obstacles standing in the way was Dodge Motorsports, which would have to put aside its long-term deal to be on the hood of Kahne's car.
Team owner Ray Evernham, who has been negotiating with Budweiser, said the deal would help alleviate some of the financial strain on Dodge. Evernham added he has several other options for Kahne's sponsor.
"I am in favor of bringing any sponsors in that increase the awareness of our brand,'' Jackson said.
Jackson added that the recent purchase of Chrysler by Cerberus will not impact Dodge's commitment to motorsports.
"We haven't really talked specifically on the aspect of racing, but Tom LaSorda runs the Chrysler Group,'' Jackson said. "Tom LaSorda is committed to racing.
"… We have long-term contracts and commitments and we will honor those long-term contracts and commitments, and they are long term." ESPN.com
07/13/07 Dale Earnhardt Inc. is still talking with Budweiser about the company continuing its team sponsorship of the car being vacated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the end of this season.
While Budweiser officials confirmed earlier today that the company would not be moving over to Hendrick Motorsports with Earnhardt Jr. for next season, the company did not announce which team it will sponsor in 2008. Budweiser appears to be in discussion with a few teams, including DEI.
"We have a long-standing relationship with them, and they want to have a strong presence in the sport, and again, I mean now we're going to have open dialogue and weigh out all the options and figure out what's best for everybody," DEI Vice President Max Siegel said Friday morning at Chicagoland Speedway, site of this weekend's Nextel Cup and Busch series races. Scenedaily.com
07/13/07 Looks like DEI not only lost their #1 driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., they also lost his sponsor Budweiser as well. Theresa Earnhardt appears to be running the company into the ground.
Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham says reports that he is close to signing a deal with Budweiser for next season are unfounded. Published reports this week have linked Budweiser with Evernham driver #9-Kasey Kahne for the 2008 season, and while Evernham confirmed that conversations have taken place, he said there is no truth to rumors that he will announce the new deal next week. "We have talked to Budweiser, but they have also spoken to five or six other teams in the Nextel Cup garage," he said. Motorsports Soapbox