Sports sponsorship
FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2009, file photo, former NASCAR driver and owner Junior Johnson smiles as he speaks to media about being named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame during a news conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Johnson, who won 50 NASCAR Cup Series races as a driver and 132 as an owner and was part of the inaugural class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, has died at 88. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)
Junior Johnson, "The Last American Hero," dies at 88

Jenna Fryer Dec. 20, 2019 07:04 PM EST

NASCAR signs 4 premier partners to sponsor Cup Series

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 05, 2019 08:50 AM EST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — NASCAR has signed Busch Beer, Coca-Cola, Geico and Xfinity as its “premier partners" in a change to its traditional sponsorship model. ...

Martin Truex Jr. drives on the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Truex is one of four drivers running for the championship. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
The Latest: Kyle Busch wins NASCAR’s Cup Series championship

Nov. 17, 2019 02:07 PM EST

Jimmie Johnson greets fans during driver introductions for the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Johnson's sponsor stays on Hendrick 48 car through 2023

By Dan Gelston Oct. 04, 2019 11:00 AM EDT

Justin Haley, left, gets a hug from his mother after he was declared the winner in a rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, July 7, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Column: Spire played the game right and got a NASCAR win

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 08, 2019 02:27 PM EDT

William Byron poses poses with the pole award after qualifying first for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 1, 2019, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Byron tops 173 mph and hits fast lap to win pole at Pocono

By Dan Gelston Jun. 01, 2019 12:56 PM EDT

A fan follows events from the roof of a camper during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
NASCAR strikes $2B deal with ISC, will gain a dozen tracks

By Mark Long May. 22, 2019 09:40 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2018, file photo, an odds sheet and betting slip are seen at Dover International Speedway before the NASCAR Cup series auto race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. NASCAR is making its first big play in the world of expanded legal sports betting, hoping a sports data partnership will lead to gamblers being able to bet during races on much more than just who gets the checkered flag. Genius Sports has become the exclusive provider of NASCAR data to licensed sportsbooks, officials announced Friday, May 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Start your wagers: NASCAR data deal could lead to more bets

By Dan Gelston May. 03, 2019 09:54 AM EDT

The car of driver Tyler Reddick sits in the pits being worked on after practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Friday, April 5, 2019, in Bristol, Tenn. The reigning Xfinity Series champion is piloting a Chevrolet at Bristol covered with country music icon Dolly Parton's face and her signature butterfly logo.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Dolly Parton makes NASCAR debut as sponsor at Bristol

Apr. 05, 2019 08:30 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, Kurt Busch greets fans during driver introductions prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. Kurt Busch arrived at Phoenix this weekend feeling like he was holding a full house. The Las Vegas native is coming off a second consecutive top-five run, this time at his home track, and felt as if his Chip Ganassi Racing team _ and their Chevrolet power plants _ were finally catching up to the Ford and Toyota teams that have dominated the early part of the Cup season. To top it off, his No. 1 team announced Friday, March 8, 2019, a new sponsorship deal with Global Poker, one of the world’s leading online gaming sites _ no small news when motorsports backing is hard to find. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Busch going all in with new sponsor, confidence at Phoenix

By Dave Skretta Mar. 08, 2019 04:48 PM EST

FILE - In this March 11, 2018, file photo, Sebastien Bourdais celebrates after winning the IndyCar Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, in St. Petersburg, Fla. St. Petersburg has been good to Bourdais, and he in turn is the unofficial ambassador for IndyCar's season-opening event. The Frenchman will be seeking his third consecutive victory Sunday, March 10, 2019, on the 1.8-mile course through the picturesque downtown of Bourdais' adopted hometown. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Sebastien Bourdais seeks 3-peat on streets of St. Pete

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 07, 2019 01:31 PM EST

FILE - In this March 9, 2018, file photo, the City of St. Petersburg is pictured in the background as IndyCar driver Simon Pagenaud makes his way through turn 10 during the first IndyCar practice on the first day of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Fla. The IndyCar season opens Sunday, March 10, 2019, in St. Petersburg. (Dirk Shadd/The Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)
IndyCar slowly and steadily returning to relevance

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 06, 2019 04:11 PM EST

Kevin Harvick holds up his trophy after winning the first of two qualifying auto races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Fresh faces and new sponsors give Daytona 500 throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 16, 2019 07:13 PM EST

Corey LaJoie leans over the hood of his car with a likeness of him painted on the front end before a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Fresh faces and new sponsors give Daytona 500 throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 15, 2019 12:23 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 13, 1992, file photo, driver Davey Allison sits in his car as it is checked after a practice run for the NASCAR auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. Allison is being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Curtis Compton, File)
The Latest: Jeff Gordon inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame

Feb. 01, 2019 09:20 PM EST

Gainbridge becomes new presenting sponsor for Indy 500

Jan. 31, 2019 01:06 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis 500 will have a new presenting sponsor for the next four years. Race officials announced Thursday that Gainbridge,...

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2011, file photo, Jeff Gordon celebrates winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Gordon headlines the 10th class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame for his storied career on and off the track. He'll be inducted on Friday night, Feb. 1,2019, along with NASCAR team owners Roger Penske and Jack Roush. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Jeff Gordon altered NASCAR landscape on way to Hall of Fame

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 31, 2019 10:59 AM EST

Bass Pro Shops moves with Martin Truex Jr. to Gibbs team

Jan. 04, 2019 10:56 AM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. landed Bass Pro Shops as sponsor for 24 races this season with Joe Gibbs Racing. Bass Pro first partnered with...

Kurt Busch and sponsor move to Chip Ganassi Racing for 2019

Dec. 04, 2018 12:15 PM EST
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch and sponsor Monster Energy will move to Chip Ganassi Racing next season for Busch's 20th season in NASCAR. The...

Jimmie Johnson, left, gets into his car before the NASCAR Cup Series championship auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Homestead, Fla. At right is crew chief Chad Knaus. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Johnson, Knaus reach checkered flag of championship pairing

By Dan Gelston Nov. 19, 2018 12:53 AM EST