A major NASCAR sponsor is trading places in 2011.
Shell-Pennzoil, which has been a primary sponsor of Richard
Childress Racing since 2007, is leaving the team at the end of the
year to sponsor Kurt Busch at Penske Racing.
Busch, the 2004 Cup Series champion, will drive the No. 22
Shell-Pennzoil Dodge in 2011. He was set to become a prized free
agent at the end of the season, but this deal ensures he will stay
at Penske beyond 2010.
As a result, Busch will vacate the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge.
Sources told FOXSports.com that one scenario mentioned has Brad
Keselowski moving into the vacant ride.
The multi-year deal for Shell-Pennzoil also includes
associate sponsorship on Penske’s three-car IZOD IndyCar
Series team. It also creates a business-to-business relationship
with both Penske Automotive Group and Dodge. PAG is the
second-largest publicly traded retailer in the U.S. and operates
316 retail automotive franchises.
Shell made its debut on Kevin Harvick’s No. 29
Chevrolet for the 2007 Daytona 500, which Harvick went on to win.
During the sponsor’s association with RCR, Harvick qualified
for the Chase for the Sprint Cup twice and is on pace to reach the
postseason again, as he’s currently fourth in the standings.
Childress said this past weekend at Texas Motor Speedway he
hopes to re-sign Harvick sometime this week. Certainly, driver
plans must be solidified before the organization courts new
sponsors for the No. 29 team.
RCR issued a statement Wednesday expressing his
disappointment in the move.
“Shell and Pennzoil have been great partners with
Richard Childress Racing since our first race together, when Kevin
Harvick and the No. 29 team won the Daytona 500 in 2007,"
Childress' statement said. "I’m disappointed that our
partnership will conclude at the end of the year but understand
some of the reasons that went into their business decision. RCR
will continue to provide Shell-Pennzoil the highest caliber program
possible, keeping in sharp focus the ultimate goal of winning the
2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. What this creates for
RCR is the opportunity for a new partner to forge its own
relationship and identity with Kevin Harvick and the
championship-level team led by crew chief Gil Martin, our other
race teams and drivers, and our other 35 partners. The No. 29 team
has had only two primary sponsors since it began in 2001 but the
number 3 has played a significant role at RCR for decades. We feel
strongly that the third chapter of the No. 29 team’s
partnership history will be a successful one.”
