Nextel and NASCAR; It Was Bound to Happen

[Sparky-Watts]

I knew it wasn't a good thing when NASCAR allowed Nextel to take over sponsorship of the Winston Cup and change the name to the Nextel cup, but I had no idea they would create this kind of problem:

AT&T Sues NASCAR

Sprint/Nextel, a competitor of AT&T in the wireless communications arena, is the title sponsor of the Nextel Cup Series. The sponsorship agreement between Sprint/Nextel and NASCAR precludes any other wireless companies from sponsoring cars in the series. Alltel (which sponsors the No. 12 Dodge of Ryan Newman) and Cingular were grandfathered into the series because their agreements predated the title sponsorship of Sprint/Nextel.

Now, I understand that NASCAR is a HUGE advertising spot for companies, but, I totally disagree that just because Nextel is the main sponsor for NASCAR they should be able to preclude any other wireless provider from sponsoring cars. This not only damages the teams, but in effect damages NASCAR and ultimately the fans. I'm currently a Sprint customer, and I've never much paid attention to advertising to make my decisions, but with this coming to light, I may end up switching carriers. Give me back the days of the old NASCAR races and free sponsorship!:evil:

 

[90Xjay]

I knew it wasn't a good thing when NASCAR allowed Nextel to take over sponsorship of the Winston Cup and change the name to the Nextel cup, but I had no idea they would create this kind of problem:

AT&T Sues NASCAR



Now, I understand that NASCAR is a HUGE advertising spot for companies, but, I totally disagree that just because Nextel is the main sponsor for NASCAR they should be able to preclude any other wireless provider from sponsoring cars. This not only damages the teams, but in effect damages NASCAR and ultimately the fans. I'm currently a Sprint customer, and I've never much paid attention to advertising to make my decisions, but with this coming to light, I may end up switching carriers. Give me back the days of the old NASCAR races and free sponsorship!:evil:

I see what your saying Sparky.

Ford, Chevy, and Dodge helped build NASCAR. If it were not for those companies spending the money they do and have since the 50's on, there would be no competition at that level. So what does NASCAR do to reward them? They let Toyota come in with big money and buy up the competition.
And Toyota will not stop until they run the series.

I absolutely loath some of the decisions made by the France family over the past 10 years but at the end of the day it's their series and about the only input the fans have is to stop watching and supporting it, which I for the most part have.

 

[mud4feet]

:agree:

 

[TwistedCU]

I agree that it does not seem to be either fair or wise to block the other wireless companies, but it is their business to run.

I'd be willing to bet that Winston-Salem didn't want a Marlboro car running around the track either.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I found it interesting to know that the Petty teams refuse to run in the Busch series, because it is sponsored by an alcohol manufacturer, and they are anti-alcohol. I never knew that. I don't follow the Busch series that much anyway, but just assumed that there was a Petty in it at some point, but I guess I was wrong.

90, I knew anything you posted to this thread would be a bash against Toyota. I've already stated my opinion on that and won't fall prey to your negativity against a legitimate manufacturer who is running a legitimate team.:roll:

 

[90Xjay]

I found it interesting to know that the Petty teams refuse to run in the Busch series, because it is sponsored by an alcohol manufacturer, and they are anti-alcohol. I never knew that. I don't follow the Busch series that much anyway, but just assumed that there was a Petty in it at some point, but I guess I was wrong.

90, I knew anything you posted to this thread would be a bash against Toyota. I've already stated my opinion on that and won't fall prey to your negativity against a legitimate manufacturer who is running a legitimate team.:roll:

well the way I see things, you and me both have beefs with the management of NASCAR.
You about the sponsorship or lack thereof with one company and me with another. Both beefs with NASCAR are decisions we feel are bad ones.

But just the same, I'll back out of your thread and leave you alone.:-|

 

[Jason4x4]

For you guys (TC, I'm looking in your direction) who are complaining about Nascar allowing a foreign manufacturer to compete, what is your rebuttal to the argument that the Camry (or the Corolla...whatever one it is) that Toyota is racing in 'Nextel Cup' is actually manufactured in the U.S. (at least, the version of it that they sell here is), whereas the Monte Carlo, Fusion, and Charger are all made in Canada/Mexico?? I'm not trying to start an argument, I'm just really curious as to how you justify that.

 

[TwistedCU]

(TC, I'm looking in your direction)

My post basically said that the owners had a right to do whatever they want. Why ya lookin' at me?!?!?!? :lol:

I will, however, point out that while the Camry may be assembled here it is not made here. It's all foreign parts. In addition, the corporate profits all leave the country, and the money is then sent to bolster another country's economy, not ours.

I quite frankly am no NASCAR fan. Never really was. I'll watch from time to time, but I've never gone out of my way to watch a race. The only real reason I responded to this is because I get sick of hearing that foreign cars like Toyota are "American Made". Well the truth is although they are assembled here they are not made here, and the money leaves our country for good. I didn't respond to how it compares to the other NASCAR cars.

The way American car makers combine foreign and domestic parts, and that have moved the assembly out of the US... well it is disappointing, but the fact remains that the cars you listed are better for our economy than a foreign car. Like it or not it is the truth.

 

[firemanharry]

I'm with Twisted

 

[firemanharry]

Ford, Chevy, and Dodge helped build NASCAR. If it were not for those companies spending the money they do and have since the 50's on, there would be no competition at that level. So what does NASCAR do to reward them? They let Toyota come in with big money and buy up the competition.
And Toyota will not stop until they run the series.

About 10 years ago, we would play quarter hands of poker during the last 15 minutes or so at work. The last hand before walking out the door was a dollar. The "dollar hand" was a chance for all the guys that had been losing to get back the money they had lost during the previous hands. The luck would go around the table during the week and nobody ever got TOO far up on the next guy. Then, one day, one of the guys who didn't usually play decided he wanted to jump in on the last hand. A heated discussion ensued and it was decided that "if you weren't in for the quarters......you're not in for the dollar."

Maybe NASCAR should be following our rules as well.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Nice hijack.:roll:

And, since I can always count on some folks to ply their own personal agenda to any thread remotely related to the US vs. anyone else (although I don't see how this thread has anything at all to do with Toyota :roll: ), here's a little parable for you:

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) decided to
have a canoe race on the Missouri River . Both teams practiced long and
hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate
the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior
management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person
rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a
consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second
opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the
boat, while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent
another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was
totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering
superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1
person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called
the "Rowing Team Quality First Program", with meetings, dinners and free
pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes
and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor
performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and
canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was
distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's
racing team was outsourced to India

Now, then, if you all want to continue your anti-Toyota discussion, please see 90's other thread about it concerning the Daytona. Please keep discussions in this thread about Nextel's battle with AT&T!:evil:

 

[firemanharry]

I found it interesting to know that the Petty teams refuse to run in the Busch series, because it is sponsored by an alcohol manufacturer, and they are anti-alcohol. I never knew that. I don't follow the Busch series that much anyway, but just assumed that there was a Petty in it at some point, but I guess I was wrong.

Please keep discussions in this thread about Nextel's battle with AT&T!:evil:

I'm sorry, I thought that once you turned towards the Petty family and their beliefs we had gotten away from the purely Nextel Vs AT&T portion of the thread.

So.....on the topic at hand.

I guess Nextel isn't letting AT&T into their "dollar hand". It is, after all, THEIR series. What more can I say?

 

[southtj]

Nextel stated on the front end that they would let the current telcom companies continue their sponsorship but would not allow any new companies in. I've been waiting for this to happen (and told my wife it would, you can ask her) as I knew this day would come. I guess the courts will decide whether it is right or not but I personally don't see any problem with Nextel's decision. It's their ballgame and they made the rules on the front end. "If you want us to sponsor you then these are our rules." And as TC alluded to, I'd be willing to bet that Winson had a similar clause in their contract but I don't remember anyone here complaining then.

As for Toyota, the more the merrier. If Hyundai or Honda or Volkswagen wants to come and compete more power to them. NASCAR started out as American cars only but they've never said they CAN'T compete. No others tried until now. They still have to follow the same rules as everyone else and if you think about it there is really very little if anything that is actually Ford, Chevy or Dodge on these cars anyway. I think maybe the hood is the only thing.

43/20

 

[TwistedCU]

I don't know why you're talking about this, but since you are let me throw my $.02 in.

There. Now stop talking about it.

C'mon SW, you know that thread hijacks are an integral part of the Jeepz.com general chat forum :lol:

As for the so called parable... cute story but Toyota is still Japanese :lol:

Original Topic:
Like I said, I never saw a Marlboro car when it was the Winston Series

That would be like Kool Aid sponsoring the Super Bowl, but then the NFL ran Hawaiian Punch ads during breaks.

Too bad for AT&T not beating Nextel to the sponsorship if that was their interest. What's the saying? 2nd place is the first loser

 

[mud4feet]

[Quote:]
Quote:
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) decided to
have a canoe race on the Missouri River . Both teams practiced long and
hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate
the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior
management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person
rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a
consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second
opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the
boat, while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent
another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was
totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering
superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1
person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called
the "Rowing Team Quality First Program", with meetings, dinners and free
pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes
and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor
performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and
canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was
distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's
racing team was outsourced to India [/Quote]




I don't really care about the thread that much or NASCAR (anymore) that much, but that's some funny stuff...............funny and all too true!



And I realized I really don't have all the "Quote" stuff figured out....:redface: :redface:

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I don't really care about the thread that much or NASCAR (anymore) that much, but that's some funny stuff...............funny and all too true!



And I realized I really don't have all the "Quote" stuff figured out....:redface: :redface:

We'll forgive ya, old man.:lol:

I've been a NASCAR fan since the days of Bobby Allison and the Wood brothers and Cale Yarborough etc., etc., etc., and still am. Sure, I don't like some of what goes on, but I still love the sport. I watch it for the race, not for the sponsors. I have never watched a NASCAR race, looked at a certain car's sponsor, and gone out the next day and bought that product just because it was on a NASCAR race. Or any other sporting event, for that matter. Yeah, there's the old adage, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday", but I don't buy into that. I mentioned earlier that I considered dropping my Sprint phone because of this mess, but really, I won't. I don't care that much. I still get better service all around on my Sprint phone than I did with any other service provider, so I'm keeping it.

I still don't like the idea of AT&T being shunned off the track just because Nextel sponsors the series. It just ain't right. All that tells me is that Nextel has feelings of inferiority against AT&T. Kinda the same feeling I get when I hear people bash the same foreign cars over and over again....kinda like if they say it enough, one day it'll be true. So, that's it for me, I'm outta here.