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RICHMOND, VA. -- The AT&T logos were back on Jeff Burton's car Friday afternoon after Sprint/Nextel and AT&T reached an out-of-court settlement on the sponsorship situation for the No. 31 Chevrolet of Richard Childress Racing.
Sprint officials have agreed to allow the AT&T to continue as the primary sponsor of the car through the end of the 2008 season.
"All parties have signed on this agreement that protects the integrity of our sponsorship," said Dean Kessel, director of Nextel Cup marketing for Sprint. "We are giving RCR and Jeff Burton an appropriate amount of time to transition to a new sponsor while remaining focused on winning the championship. That is the best solution for RCR, NASCAR, Sprint and racing fans."
AT&T, Sprint and NASCAR have been involved in a major legal battle since RCR changed the logos on Burton's car from Cingular to AT&T earlier this season. AT&T bought out Cingular and wanted to change the logos on Burton's car.
Sprint/Nextel has exclusivity rights in Cup, but Cingular and Alltel were grandfathered in when Nextel took over for Winston as the title sponsor in 2004. Sprint and NASCAR said AT&T was not allowed to change the logos on the No. 31 Chevy.
AT&T filed a lawsuit over the decision. A federal judge issued an injunction in May allowing the AT&T's logos back on the car. That ruling was overturned by an appeals court last month, causing RCR to race the car without logos in recent events.
Another injunction hearing was scheduled for Sept. 18, but further legal action has been avoided with this settlement.
"This agreement represents compromise from all sides that ultimately serves the sport well," said NASCAR chairman Brian France. "No one likes litigation, most of all NASCAR fans, and it was time to find a mutually agreeable resolution."
Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
Sprint officials have agreed to allow the AT&T to continue as the primary sponsor of the car through the end of the 2008 season.
"All parties have signed on this agreement that protects the integrity of our sponsorship," said Dean Kessel, director of Nextel Cup marketing for Sprint. "We are giving RCR and Jeff Burton an appropriate amount of time to transition to a new sponsor while remaining focused on winning the championship. That is the best solution for RCR, NASCAR, Sprint and racing fans."
AT&T, Sprint and NASCAR have been involved in a major legal battle since RCR changed the logos on Burton's car from Cingular to AT&T earlier this season. AT&T bought out Cingular and wanted to change the logos on Burton's car.
Sprint/Nextel has exclusivity rights in Cup, but Cingular and Alltel were grandfathered in when Nextel took over for Winston as the title sponsor in 2004. Sprint and NASCAR said AT&T was not allowed to change the logos on the No. 31 Chevy.
AT&T filed a lawsuit over the decision. A federal judge issued an injunction in May allowing the AT&T's logos back on the car. That ruling was overturned by an appeals court last month, causing RCR to race the car without logos in recent events.
Another injunction hearing was scheduled for Sept. 18, but further legal action has been avoided with this settlement.
"This agreement represents compromise from all sides that ultimately serves the sport well," said NASCAR chairman Brian France. "No one likes litigation, most of all NASCAR fans, and it was time to find a mutually agreeable resolution."
Terry Blount covers motorsports for ESPN.com. He can be reached at [email protected].
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