Childress in talks with Dallas Cowboys owner

[MountaineerTom]

From thatsracin.com

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LONG POND, Pa. - Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, has been in discussions with Richard Childress Racing to either invest in or sponsor a Winston Cup team next season.

Childress, who owns the Chevrolets of Kevin Harvick, Mike Skinner and Jeff Green, confirmed Friday he has spoken with Jones about several possibilities, including team sponsorship.

"They are one of the companies that we have talked to. We do a lot of special event cars, a lot of different things," Childress said. "We've talked about a variety of different scenarios. Anytime somebody of that caliber and as large as they are (want to talk), you have to talk to them."

Childress said discussions with Jones and his team first started about six months ago. He said he didn't recall how he and Jones originally met.

Web sites and newspapers in the Dallas area first reported a deal may be in the works on Friday morning. Sources place the investment on Jones' part to upwards of ? million.

The late Dale Earnhardt, killed in a last-lap wreck in the Daytona 500, won six of his seven Winston Cup championships with Childress. Childress also owns two NASCAR Grand National series teams.

A sports franchise has never sponsored a Winston Cup car for an entire season.

[NewbieZ71]

Please, no.  Not Jerry Jones in NASCAR.  I have a hard time seeing and listening to him from August through January with the NFL.  Please not the rest of the months too.  Whats he going to do, hang out in the pits with a water bottle?  Fired drivers after they lose one race??? ARGHHH!!!!!

[MountaineerTom]

Update

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UPDATE: Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, has been in discussions with Richard Childress Racing to either invest in or sponsor a Winston Cup team next season(That's Racin')(7-28-2001)

UPDATE 2: Jones has talked with Richard Childress, president of Richard Childress Racing, on issues of NASCAR ownership and the business of securing sponsors to pay the bills. "We're just in the preliminary discussion stage right now," Jones said. "We recognize that NASCAR is an outstanding sport and has a great number of fans who have a lot of synergy with Dallas Cowboys fans." Jones has been told by NASCAR officials that "upwards of ? million to ? million a year" can be brought in by sponsors vying for advertising space on the car. "As owners -- again, if we're involved -- we will use the credibility and the visibility of the Dallas Cowboys to promote the racing team during its season and have a [marketing] tie-in during our season," Jones said. "We are going to be sponsored by other companies. That's the business of racing ... to cover your expenses of owning a car. If you do it right, that could mean upwards of ? million to ? million a year covered by sponsors. Certainly, we would anticipate that." Jones wouldn't hint at possible sponsors. But he has had business associations with Pepsi-Cola, Miller beer and Dr. Pepper, to name a few. "It would be obvious to everybody that this was the Dallas Cowboys' car out there," Jones said. "It will done -- if we do it -- strictly on a business basis." Jones' sons, Stephen and Jerry Jones Jr., are involved in the day-to-day operation of the Cowboys, and they also have significant roles in projects such as Dallas' new Arena Football League team, which begins play in 2002. "Right now, this is the Dallas Cowboys teaming up with people who are in the [NASCAR] business," Jones said. "But no matter what we might do here, my focus will remain on football. I am the owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. The car, the visibility, the success of [racing] would be done just like I run the Dallas Cowboys -- just not by me." Jones' family members will handle all corporate decisions, even the hiring of the driver(Star Telegram)(7-29-2001)