SportBusiness.com

Sharpie puts pen to new deal

Pen firm Sharpie has extended its sponsorship of the NASCAR Winston Cup race staged at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The deal will see the race known as the Sharpie 500 until 2008.

The announcement comes just two days before the running of the Sharpie 500 this weekend - the third-year of the sponsorship.

Said Bob Parker, president of the Sharpie Group: "Our commitment to Bristol and the millions of race fans across the country and around the world means more than just a sponsorship extension.

"We're pleased to be taking the relationship to a new level."

Sharpie is also a major sponsor of the No. 97 Rubbermaid/Sharpie Ford and Kurt Busch, currently eighth in the 2003 Winston Cup points race.