Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

National Guard ends NASCAR sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Jr.


Under fire from Congress over high cost and low returns, the Army National Guard announced Wednesday it is ending its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Jr.


'Significantly constrained resources and the likelihood of further reductions in the future call for more innovative and cost-effective ways of doing business,' Major Gen. Judd H. Lyons, acting Director of the Army National Guard, said in a statement.


In 2014, the Guard spent $32 million on its NASCAR sponsorship and $12 million with Indy Racing League driver Graham Rahl. That sponsorship will also be stopped, Lyons said.


'Future programs will rely on much smaller budgets,' he said.


The move comes following a May report that showed the Guard's $26.5 million NASCAR sponsorship in 2012 failed to add a single new soldier to its ranks. The report showed the Guard received information on 24,800 recruiting prospects through its NASCAR program but only 20 of those qualified for entry into service and not one joined.


In 2013, the number of recruits linked to the program dropped to 7,500.


The NASCAR sponsorship entitles the Guard to put its logo on the Earnhardt's car for 20 races and set up displays at tracks. It shares the sponsorship with other companies, including Diet Mountain Dew and Kelley Blue Book.


Lyons said the sponsorship contracts are set to expire at the end of the current season.


NASCAR and IndyCar sponsorship were the final two sports-related programs supported by the Guard, which has seen its marketing budget cut to about half of what it was three years ago. At one time, the Guard had marketing agreement with six sport sponsors ranging from fishing to motorcycle racing.


Related Stories


Post a Comment for "National Guard ends NASCAR sponsorship of Dale Earnhardt Jr."