SportBusiness.com

BUSCH CROWNS NEW SPONSOR

Newly crowned Nextel Cup series champion Kurt Busch has added a new corporate sponsor, Crown Royal - the first company to take advantage of the lifting of the long-standing ban on hard liquor advertising.

The company will be primary sponsor of the Jack Roush-owned No. 97 Ford at selected events, including the Brickyard 400 in 2005, reports USATODAY.com.

Crown Royal will be an associate sponsor for the rest of the schedule.

NASCAR had allowed advertising for beer and so-called malt beverages, such as Smirnoff Ice, but not hard liquor.

The new policy will allow hard-liquor companies to sponsor cars as long as they spend at least 20 per cent of their racing-themed advertising on "responsible drinking" messages.