After Budweiser announced that it wouldn't be sponsoring the race now known as the Shootout in 2013, the exhibition race the week before the Daytona 500 was looking for a new sponsor and potentially, a new name.
It now has both. And, the new name is, uh, interesting.
Cup Series title sponsor Sprint is now sponsoring the race, and it will be called the "Sprint Unlimited." Yes, it's named after Sprint's data plan marketing angle.
?Sprint is entering its 10th season as title sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,? Steve Gaffney, vice president of marketing for Sprint said in a release. ?From the outset, we promised unprecedented access for race fans, and each year we challenge ourselves to honor that commitment in innovative ways. Thanks to the strength of our partnership with NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway, we have designed The Sprint Unlimited so that fans play a major role in all aspects of the event. It is the ideal way to start this milestone season, and we look forward to sharing all of the details later this month.?
Budweiser's sponsorship has moved to the Duel Daytona 500 qualifying races.
And while you can get unlimited data from Sprint (product plug! I want my royalties!), the field in the "Unlimited" race is not so. It's throttled to 2012 pole winners and past champions of the race. Which means that 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski isn't eligible as he didn't win a pole last season or is a past champion of the race.
Do you like the name? Drop us a line in the comments.
