NASCAR countersues AT&T for $100 million, moves to ban future telecom sponsorships

by Evan Blass, posted Jun 18th 2007 at 12:45PM

We really couldn't care less about who wins this race or that race on the NASCAR circuit, and yet we've been unable to take our eyes off of the stock car giant's ongoing legal battle with AT&T, which has just entered a new and more contentious phase this week. You'll recall that in an effort to protect Nextel's exclusive 10-year sponsorship, NASCAR officials attempted to prohibit the "new" AT&T from rebranding Jeff Burton's Cingular car -- an attempt that was thwarted in a US District Court last month. Well apparently Brian France and friends aren't too fond of watching Burton race around the track with his shiny new paint job, and have just filed a $100 million countersuit in Atlanta, citing "breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation, and conspiracy to aid and abet wrongful interference with Nextel." What's more, NASCAR is seeking the right to completely ban any non-Nextel telecommunications sponsors from the sport starting in 2008, which would allow it give both AT&T and Alltel the boot. Ah, courtroom drama: the true sport of kings.

Filed under: ATT

Tags: nascar, nextel

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

John Scott @ Jun 18th 2007 3:33PM

Being a NASCAR fan for many years, I see the real problem here is between NASCAR and Nextel. I think NASCAR gave too much control over to Nextel for their sponsorship of the Cup series. That's right! Cup sponsorship. What that has to do with a racing team sponsorship I do not know. What if a softdrink or bear company was to sponsor the cup? Would that mean all other softdrink or bear maker's would be excluded from sponsoring a racing team? NASCAR "are you nut's"!!! It's hard enough to find companies willing to be a major sponsor for a team, let alone excluding some prospective companies just because they happen to compete with your cup sponsor. Maybe Nextel would just like to sponsor everything, like the teams,the tracks,the fuel and anything else for that matter!! Yes, when you go to the track all you will see is Yellow and Black Nextel color's. Tell me, do we still have a free market society? Or did I fall asleep for a while and China bought the US for cheap?

Neutral

Brien Mizell @ Jun 18th 2007 6:23PM

well, I HATE cingular. But then again, I HATE Nascar. If nascar wins this one. AT&T will be exceptionaly happy they got the iPhone, that might be the only way they can make some of that money back.

Neutral

Dan @ Jun 18th 2007 7:12PM

It is a free market and that is why Nascar and Nextel can do what they want. If AT&T doesn't like it they can bid on the Cup sponsorship next time it is up for bid... Or they can start their own racing championship and call it the AT&T cup..

Neutral

keithwwalker @ Jun 19th 2007 2:44PM

NASCAR=Fake racing

enough said.

Neutral

bluegecko @ Jun 19th 2007 5:30PM

This is just Sprint / Nextel trying to through there weight around. ( what little they have ) Alltel and Cingular had a car in the seris before Nextel ever started the sponsorship.

Neutral

Dork @ Jun 19th 2007 8:30PM

Agree...Sprint is total craps 'n stuff.

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