E-Malt.com News article: USA: Coors Light to become the official beer of NASCAR, replacing Budweiser

Coors Light will announce a $20 million deal over five years to become the official beer of NASCAR starting in January, USA Today reported September 26.

Coors replaces Anheuser-Busch as the official sponsor. The new deal includes renaming the pole award to the Coors Light Pole Award from the Bud Pole Award.

For Coors, the NASCAR deal also replaces its sponsorship of the No. 40 Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series.

"Our deal was up with those guys, and this opportunity came up," says Andy England, chief marketer for Coors. "It feels like we are elevating our game."

For consumer product marketers, a league deal opens up greater opportunity for strong retail display — especially in and around cities when races occur.

"We'll follow the tour," England says. "This gives us great exposure in the 50 miles around the track. It means no matter who wins on the track, we win every week in stores."

Budweiser has been the official beer of NASCAR since 1998. It also has sponsored Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 8 since he entered the Cup series in 1999.

The beer will remain in the top series next year as the sponsor of Kasey Kahne's No. 9 Dodge.

NASCAR still is looking for a title sponsor for its second-tier series, which Busch has sponsored since 1984.


26 September, 2007