Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
M&M's looks to be heading to Gibbs #18 in 2008: Mars U.S. was finalizing a deal Thursday to use its M&M's brand to sponsor Kyle Busch when he moves to Joe Gibbs Racing next season. M&M's would replace Interstate Batteries, which has sponsored Gibbs' flagship #18 since its 1992 inception. J.D. Gibbs, president of the race team, didn't respond to a request for comment. But two people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Mars was working on a deal to sponsor Busch that will be officially announced next month at M&M's World in New York City. They requested anonymity because the deal was not yet complete. Interstate is expected to stay involved with JGR in a smaller role. JGR is also ending its 16-year association with General Motors at the end of this season and will field Toyotas beginning next year. It will make the move with three lucrative sponsors as Mars moves its M&M's brand away from Robert Yates Racing and rookie David Gilliland. It's unclear what the company will do with its Snickers sponsorship on Yates' second car, but the move to JGR is troublesome to the Yates [currently #38 and #88] organization. The struggling team has been trying to restructure all season, and longtime owner Robert Yates said earlier this month that he plans to retire at the end of the season. He's handing over the company to his son, Doug, who plans to call it Yates Racing and field cars for Gilliland and Travis Kvapil.(in part from the Associated Press)