KFC no longer interested in taking over Busch Series

After meeting with NASCAR sales officials and conferring with Octagon Racing Group, KFC has decided not to pursue the title sponsorship of NASCAR's No. 2 series.

KFC spokesman Rick Maynard said last week KFC conducted a thorough review of the sponsorship being vacated by Busch after this season and that, while it might have been attractive, it didn't fit into the company's "spending priorities over the next several years."

KFC had been considered one of the candidates to land the Busch title, which is expected to cost an average of $30 million a year. Subway, Dish Network, Dunkin' Donuts and Wal-Mart also have been reported as candidates.

KFC was using Octagon Racing Group to study the sponsorship and related costs. Octagon also represented Nextel in 2003 when it won the title sponsorship to the Cup series and remains a Sprint Nextel partner.

KFC has been in and out of the sport since the 1980s with Cup and Busch team sponsorships. Most recently, in 2004, KFC sponsored Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Busch car as part of a deal that included Taco Bell and Long John Silver's.