Drivers react to new entitlement sponsor

Smith: 'It's going to be fun to see what comes of it in the future'

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Regan Smith competed in NASCAR's No. 2 series when it was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, through its Busch beer brand.
 
He continues to race in the series today, in what is currently known as the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
 
And it's very likely that Smith, driver of the JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet, will be suiting up in the series again next year when XFINITY takes over as series sponsor.

"In the last 10 years, it's evolved from the standpoint of we've seen different types of companies come in, and no one company any better than the other," Smith said Tuesday.
 
"I think strictly speaking from a technology standpoint, this is obviously the most natural fit that we've had for that series ... that's exciting. It's going to be fun to see what comes of it in the future."
 
NASCAR and Comcast officials announced a 10-year entitlement agreement for the series Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, unveiling what will be known as the NASCAR XFINITY Series beginning in 2015.
 
XFINITY is the residential service brand of Comcast, providing video and high-speed Internet service to its customers.
 
And it's that technology that Smith and others believe will be a tremendous benefit for the series as well as the entire sport.
 
"It definitely reaches a larger demographic, and a demographic of technology-based consumers, whether it's the young kids coming up through the series or the little bit more middle-aged guys such as myself," Smith said. "There are so many things that are out there to be excited about."
 
Ryan Blaney, a competitor in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series, also runs a limited Nationwide Series schedule with Team Penske, and is a likely candidate to move into the series full-time next season.
 
Blaney, 20, noted the 10-year commitment as well as what XFINITY brings to the table.
 
"That means a lot," he said of the length of the deal, which runs concurrently with the NBC Sports contract and is also scheduled to begin next season. "You never see a 10-year deal initially; that's something that shows how appealing NASCAR and this series is, how important it is for this feeder series.
 
"With all of that mixed together, XFINITY and NASCAR and the younger generation, it really comes together good. I think that's what you're really going to see -- everything is going to flow together very easily."

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