Sunday, February 26, 2012

Economy brighter in NASCAR, teams still searching

Essential News from The Associated Press

AAA??Feb. 24, 2012?2:55 PM ET
Economy brighter in NASCAR, teams still searching
CHRIS JENKINSCHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer?THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES?

Driver Trevor Bayne, right, talks with a crew member in his garage during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Driver Trevor Bayne, right, talks with a crew member in his garage during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jimmie Johnson, center, talks to his wife Chandra, left, as he holds their daughter Genevieve Marie, right, before the second of two NASCAR Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying auto races in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt)

Danica Patrick, right, talks with Greg Zipadelli, left, during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt)

Danica Patrick drives her car during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

(AP) ? Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are two of the most prominent up-and-coming drivers in NASCAR. In happier economic times, they might have Fortune 500 companies falling all over them.

Going into Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500, neither driver has a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup Series.

NASCAR chief marketing officer Steve Phelps sees signs that NASCAR is rebounding from the hit it took when the economy started sputtering. Phelps says NASCAR has seen an overall increase in sponsorship every year since 2009.

But Phelps acknowledges that seeing drivers such as Bayne and Stenhouse not getting to race full seasons because their teams can't find enough sponsors is cause for some concern.

Phelps says teams are "finding their way on that as well, and it's getting better."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-02-24-NASCAR-State%20of%20the%20Sport/id-8d298617ac5443eeb54e61afc541a092

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