Bummer

Budweiser won't sponsor Earnhardt Jr.

By DAVID POOLE - dpoole@charlotteobserver.com

JOLIET, Ill. --

Budweiser will not be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s primary sponsor next year, Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Friday morning.

"We have agreements in place with sponsors for the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season which prevent us from having a relationship with Budweiser," team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement. "Honoring our commitments is important to us. The trade-off is missing an opportunity to bring Budweiser, a marquee brand synonymous with NASCAR and its fans, into the fold."

Budweiser has sponsored Earnhardt Jr.'s cars since he came to the Cup Series.

Earnhardt Jr. announced on June 13 that he would drive for Hendrick next year. Primary sponsorship on that team remains undecided and no timetable has been established for an announcement, Friday's statement said.

Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch, said Budweiser will remain "an active sponsor" in NASCAR. Published reports have linked Evernham Motorsports and driver Kasey Kahne to a potential deal.

"Budweiser has sponsored Dale Jr. for nearly a decade, and we wish him the very best," Ponturo said. "We look forward to building upon the legacy of the iconic Budweiser red car in 2008 and beyond."

Budweiser has sponsored cars in NASCAR's top series since 1983, backing such drivers as Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader.

"To climb into that red Budweiser car each weekend has always been a privilege," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Although Budweiser and I will be unable to continue our partnership beyond this season, I remain committed to driving for Bud the rest of this year, and will continue to make it my beer of choice. I'm a race car driver. All I can do is drive as hard as I can for my fans and sponsorship partners, and give my best effort each weekend."