Sponsorship Deals We're Not Likely to See Anytime Soon

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on June 20, 2006.

Sponsorship in Nascar is a big deal - big bucks are at stake.  With the success Home Depot has had with Tony Stewart, can you imagine them with another driver?  Junior not as the Bud Man?  Jeff Gordon driving for anyone but Dupont?

Yet it happens every few years.  And as drivers retire, their sponsorships fall to other drivers.  But there are some match-ups that just won't happen.  Here are a few I've thought of.

1.  Kyle Busch and any self tanning product.  As a person who can't tan, I empathize with Kyle, really I do.  But I know that there is not a self tanner made that will not streak, look orange and fake. 

2.  Elliott Sadler and PETA.  Sadler's favorite off season activity is hunting.  He's unlikely to garner support from PETA.  Neither is Ryan Newman for that matter as he is an avid fisherman.

3.  Jamie McMurray/ Brian Vickers & Rogaine.  The two hair care purveyors of Nascar are unlikely to ever embrace Rogaine.  At least not publicly.

4.  Tony Stewart and Gillette.  Can you imagine someone telling Stewart to shave?  Regularly?

5.  Kyle Petty and an alcohol sponsor.  At least while he's driving for his father (Richard promised his mother he wouldn't run an alcohol sponsor).  Kyle did drive for another owner and ran the Coors Light car.

6.  Paul Menard and Home Depot/Lowe's.  Unlikely that any other home improvement store would sponsor him but Menards.  But then again, who would have thought a Busch brother would hawkl Miller Lite?