Cup, Nationwide and Truck teams could lose sponsor
Monday, Jan. 25, 2010
Sponsorship from Miccosukee Indian Gaming in all three of NASCAR's national series - Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks - could be terminated as a result of an early February vote by the Indian tribe, the Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.
The tribe, which runs Miccosukee Resort and Gaming located in Miami and along the southeastern edge of the Florida Everglades, elected a new chairman, Colley Billie, on Jan. 5 who campaigned on promoting a new and "proactive" economic development platform.
Several sources confirmed the tribe plans a Feb. 4 vote to decide whether it will continue its sponsorship in NASCAR, which includes Cup and Nationwide teams to be fielded in 2010 by team owner James Finch and a Truck team owned and driven by Kyle Busch.
The chances the NASCAR sponsorships will continue are considered slim, sources said.
Finch has been planning to field the No. 09 Cup entry with driver Aric Almirola and a fulltime Nationwide entry for James Buescher.
Miccosukee was also set to sponsor Busch's No. 18 Truck, which he is sharing this season with Brian Ickler. It's one of at least two fulltime Truck entries Kyle Busch Motorsports is fielding.
A spokesman for KBM said Monday the organization was aware of the Feb. 4 vote and would field the team regardless of whether the Miccosukee sponsorship continues.
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