NFL Hall of Fame Coach has Opening on His NASCAR Team

CHARLOTTE, NC --- When Joe Gibbs was building his three Super Bowl Championship teams with the Washington Redskins, he knew it took a complete team to win the Lombardi Trophy that goes to the Super Bowl Champion. With Gibbs now a successful NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch Grand National and Truck Series team owner, he applies the same principles as he did in football to his racing organization. Gibbs knows it takes more than a veteran driver, a strong crew chief and a dedicated racing team to win a championship in NASCAR. It also takes a sponsor willing to grow with the Joe Gibbs Racing organization.

Just like he was forced to do on many occasions during his NFL coaching career, Gibbs has had to sit a key part of his NASCAR organization on the sidelines. Only this time its not the starting running back with a knee injury, but a leading Busch Grand National team without a sponsor.

Earlier this year, Gibbs was operating two NASCAR Busch Grand National Series teams, but only one was sponsored. Less than two weeks ago, Gibbs decided to make the move to just one car in the Busch Series until a second sponsor could be located. Outside of the driver, who he released to pursue other racing opportunities, Gibbs has kept the full team in place. In a moment's notice, the team can decal their Pontiac racecars to the sponsor's colors and return to racing.

The key ingredient for that potential sponsor may be the quality of team they would be associated with. When Gibbs called the team to the sidelines, it stood in 7th place in the NASCAR Busch Series points race, less than 50 points from fifth. The team contended for wins in many races and recorded a top finish of second earlier this year at The California Speedway.

The new sponsor would join the Joe Gibbs family of sponsors that include; Home Depot, Interstate Batteries, MBNA, Coca-Cola, Proctor and Gamble and Circuit City among others.

"We believe that NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing reach the heart of America," team owner Joe Gibbs said. "With television viewership reaching new records, and new markets such as Kansas City and Chicago being added it is no wonder NASCAR has grown in popularity to become second only to the NFL. For a company's marketing dollar it is one of the best buys out there."

Gibbs will continue his search for the missing piece to return his second Busch Series team to the track. Sponsorship opportunities are available for both the remainder of the 2001 season and the 2002-racing season. Interested parties can contact Dean Noble at 704-944-5000.