Kmart to sponsor Haas-Carter for first two races

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
February 1, 2002
5:33 AM EST (1733 GMT)

CONCORD, N.C. - The blue lights keep shining for the two Kmart NASCAR teams -- at least for now.

A deal was reached Friday between Haas-Carter Motorsports and the Kmart Corp. to continue sponsorship of the No. 26 Ford of Joe Nemechek and the No. 66 Ford of Todd Bodine for the first two races of the 2002 Winston Cup Series season.

This means that the company’s decals will indeed appear on the two cars.

In a statement released by Kmart, the company said that it would provide sponsorship for both teams to participate in the season-opening Daytona 500 and the following week in the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway.

However, the future of the agreement beyond the second race is still in question. The statement, in part, said, "Kmart continues to evaluate its NASCAR sponsorship as part of its current Chapter 11 restructuring."

"This is the agreement we have reached for right now," Dave Karraker, vice president of communications and marketing for Kmart, told NASCAR.com on Friday. "We couldn’t be happier to be part of the Daytona 500 with Haas-Carter Motorsports for the premier race of the year in NASCAR.

"We have a new driver in Joe Nemechek and a new paint scheme. I think it’s important for the Kmart family of employees and the fans that shop there that we are part of the Daytona 500."

A statement from Haas-Carter, issued through Cox Marketing Group, its public relations firm, reiterated what Kmart said. Any speculation that the sponsor’s colors wouldn’t be on the car for the Daytona 500 can now be put to rest.

"Haas Carter Motorsports plans to field two NASCAR Winston Cup Series cars for both the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway and the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway," the statement said. "The No. 26 Ford Taurus, driven by Joe Nemechek, and No. 66 Ford Taurus, driven by Todd Bodine, will both carry the Kmart logos during each race. Bodine’s Kmart Ford will also be represented in the February 10th Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

"The team continues to evaluate its sponsorship situation."