Nicorette Or National Guard Sharing Gordon’s Sponsorship In ’09?

(Originally published on Oct. 11, 2008)

When Jeff Gordon’s new DuPont paint scheme was revealed recently, Nicorette’s associate sponsorship along the lower rear quarter panels was notably missing.
But that doesn’t mean Hendrick Motorsports’ relationship with the smoking cessation product is necessarily over. And even if it is, there appears to be an opportunity for another sponsor to form a marketing relationship with Gordon’s team.
“Nicorette has been a valued partner of Hendrick Motorsports, and we are in the process of discussing 2009 options with them,” a Hendrick spokesperson told the Press.
In 2008, Gordon’s car will sport Nicorette green six times as primary sponsor, including upcoming races at Atlanta and Texas. Pepsi was the primary sponsor twice in ’08.
With the new DuPont colors, there were questions whether Gordon’s longtime primary sponsor would want to keep the conventional scheme the same for more races instead of making them available to others.
But the Hendrick rep later added, “The structure of the sponsorship will be similar to what you’ve seen the past few seasons.”
One online report by www.bleacherreport.com last month says that the National Guard—
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Sprint Cup co-primary sponsor—will pick up Nicorette’s former spot on the lower rear quarter panels. While that report couldn’t be confirmed, the same story correctly predicted both Jimmie Johnson’s paint scheme change for 2009 and Unilever brands’ (Hellman’s, Ragu, Klondike, etc.) switch from the No. 9 Gillett-Evernham Dodge to the No. 5 JR Motorsports Chevy in the Nationwide Series next year.
Gordon products for ’09 are already for sale on sites including NASCAR.com. One, an 8x10 photo, still features Nicorette on the driver’s firesuit. But the image also includes the team’s ’09 paint scheme, with the back of the car not visible.
Attempts to reach Lutz, Fla.-based Lighthouse Marketing, LLC, which manages Nicorette’s motorsports account, were unsuccessful.
Nicorette is wrapping up its third year affiliated with Gordon.