NBC/TNT, Lowe's come to terms
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
October 7, 2001
11:57 AM EDT (1557 GMT)
CONCORD, N.C. -- NBC/TNT Sports and Lowe's Motor Speedway came to an agreement just prior to the UAW-GM 500 on Sunday that will have the network referring to the track by its proper name.
On Saturday, the track debated whether or not to tow the television production trucks off the property of the 1.5-mile high-banked oval. H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president of the speedway, was incensed that the network was referring to the track as Charlotte Motor Speedway, rather than by its present name.
The announcers were not referring to the track by its recognized name, reportedly, because Lowe's had not purchased advertising time on the network. Since then, an advertising agreement has been made and Lowe's did purchase the time from NBC, so all parties involved deemed the issue solved.
"Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse and NBC/Turner Sports have enjoyed a long-standing business relationship and are pleased to announce that an advertising agreement for NASCAR has been reached," a statement issued Sunday morning said.
"This agreement strengthens Lowe's commitment to the sport and, most importantly, the fans of NASCAR."
The verbal sparring had become a big enough deal that Bill France Jr., chairman of the board for NASCAR, spoke at the drivers' meeting on Sunday morning.
He read a statement Bill France Sr., his father and original founder of the sanctioning body, made regarding NASCAR and what it's mission statement was. Bill Sr. first issued the statement to a gathering of the original board members when the organizational company meeting was held on December 14, 1947 at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla.
After he completed reading what his father had once read, Bill France Jr. turned to Ken Schanzer the president of NBC Sports, and publicly apologized for what took place yesterday.
"I am embarrassed about what happened yesterday and would like to publicly apologize for the incident," France said, pointing to Schanzer. "On behalf of NASCAR, these drivers and teams -- we're sorry."
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