Mike Wallace said Friday at Kentucky Speedway that sponsor GEICO has indicated what it wants to do after next season, and it appears it won’t be sponsoring Wallace. GEICO, an insurance company, is not allowed in the Nationwide Series in 2010 as part of a non-competing sponsor agreement with the series sponsor. Nationwide began sponsoring NASCAR’s No. 2 series this year. Wallace drives the No. 7 Toyota for Germain Racing.
“We have an indication of what they’re going to do,” Wallace said of NASCAR. “Who really knows? I’ll just leave it at that.”
GEICO has been one of the most visible sponsors in the series, with its popular commercials featuring fictional Wallace relative Lauren Wallace.
I just can't seem to catch a break. I guess that's what I get for sticking with my Tennessee and Missouri boys. It's tempting to jump on a band wagon. But how much fun would that be? No, don't expect me to be hollering "Joooooonyer!," anytime soon.
Hopefully Mike will find a sponsor and I'll be able to stay with him.
Here Crocodile. Here's your chance to eat a gecko.
Pay attention Construct. Here is your chance to build something.
Not that I have anything against Justin Marks, but these two Germain Racing sponsors might get more mileage out of Mike.
Han - you are too funny! At lease Falcs is a very proud supporter of his racing guys. And he does a great job with the summary and the links.
OK...so maybe a bit more than you wanted to know if you're not a JMac or MWallace fan. But..you know you haven't missed the latest scoop with Falcons on the newsbeat!
Falcs - I love the Mike Wallace commercials myself, and I always look for him to be in the front of the pack. Maybe Mike is not as loud, colorful or funny as his siblings, but he is one to keep an eye on during the NW race each week.
Mike is a good guy and a good driver. Noah and I met him last year in Milwaukee. I even got an autographed geko. I hope they find a great sponsor and continue to have fun.
I don't like the trend that NASCAR's title sponsors are able to prohibit competitor's from team sponsorship (even though I realize it is good business for the title sponsor and NASCAR); however, Geico (like Cingular and Alltel in the Cup Series) already was an established sponsor in the Busch Series before Nationwide became the title sponsor. Therefore, Geico should have been grandfathered in and NASCAR should not have been able to tell Germain Racing that they need to find a new sponsor.
Hopefully, Geico will stick with Germain Racing and sponsor Chrissy Wallace in the Truck Series. Then maybe Chrissy could put Lauren Wallace in the wall!
LOL. Might I have Adult ADHD and only on focus on things I really care about and then over do it? It is probable.
Of course I know your joking. The truth in it is O.K. too.
However, there will be no Setzer post today. I have done my Setzer reading and don't even think anybody here would be interested in his Milwaukee preview. :-)
14Falcons - Thanks for the info. I only had heard that Geico had to be out of the Nationwide Series by 2010; I wasn't aware that it was because they were leaving Germain Racing and couldn't move to another team.
"Caterpillar's sponsorship of (Jeff) Burton's No. 31 Chevrolet was characterized as a multiyear partnership, though specific terms were not disclosed. The world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment will replace AT&T, which must vacate its sponsorship of Burton's car as part of the settlement of last year's lawsuit involving AT&T, NASCAR and series title sponsor Sprint Nextel." (6-18-2008, The Sporting News)
In other words, Sprint won. So will Natiowide, if challenged.
Exclusivity is an advertising business standard. It's collapse would wreak havok on the advertising industry. Therefore exclusivity is alive and well, as it should be, in my opinion. Not only is it good for the industry but it is good for NASCAR. All those "official" sponsors's of NASCAR add millions to the sport allowing us to continue to enjoy it.
I think you are right that GEICO had to leave Nationwide by 2010. And I don't like that. I would think they could be "grandfathered" as long as they stayed with Germain.
Now, GEICO can still go Cup or Truck racing. So the possibility of them helping Chrissy or going to Trucks with Mike might have been there. However, based on the tone of Mike's comments, I don't see that happening. I think he just burned that bridge.
Edit: Upon further review of my own blog (Damn it! Pay attention Kevin!)apparently GEICO could have stayed past 2009 and chose not to.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
