CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Stock car racing's longest event will continue, being known as the Coca-Cola 600, through at least 2015. And Coke products will remain the official drinks of Charlotte Motor Speedway, which hosts the 600-mile race, and five other tracks owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Those announcements were made Friday by Speedway Motorsports and Coca-Cola North America. nbsp; They announced that their partnership will be extended through 2015
The extension is considered a key move for Speedway Motorsports, the company headed by Bruton Smith, giving the organization an extra dose of stability during a time when the recession has forced cuts in a number of racing operations.
As television ratings and attendance have declined, speedway operators and many race teams have experienced cuts in corporate and manufacturer support. Charlotte Motor Speedway lost its Lowe's sponsorship at the end of 2009 and dropped that brand from its name.
Speedway Motorsports cut expenses 20 percent in 2009, officials said, and reported profits were up 13 percent in the third quarter last year. Fourth-quarter figures are to be announced Wednesday (March10).
In addition to Charlotte Motor Speedway, the SMI tracks are Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga.; New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, N.H.; Infineon Raceway Speedway, in Sonoma, Calif.; Las Vegas Motor Speedway; and Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth.
This year's Coca-Cola 600 will be on May 30.
Coca-Cola also sponsors the Coke Zero 400, a Sprint Cup race on July 4 weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
And Coke provides financial backing for the Coca-Cola Racing Family -- a group of drivers that includes Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart.
SMI and Coca-Cola have a 25-year partnership.
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