Speedway Motorsports Signs Sponsorship Deal

Speedway Motorsports has signed a five-year sponsorship and licensing agreement with Action Performance Companies Inc.

The deal gives Action track-side licensing and merchandising rights for NASCAR's Winston Cup and Busch Grand National race events held at all six Speedway Motorsports facilities — Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sears Point Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway. The deal includes exclusive rights to market and sell commemorative die-cast vehicles. Speedway will also use the Chase Authentics brand of event apparel at its facilities, which host 10 NASCAR Winston Cup events annually.

Terms of the deal give Action rights to signage, event program advertising and title sponsorship of various Performance Racing Network programming. Action has also purchased hospitality packages and suites at four Speedway tracks. Action will also be the exclusive title sponsor of the "Collector Pavilion," a new event featuring a 10,800-square-foot open-air shopping mall at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowes Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

Meanwhile, Time Warner's World Championship Wrestling has signed a deal with Chicago-based Genender International to design, manufacture and market watches and clocks based on the WCW franchise. The deal was brokered by WCW's licensing agent, Leisure Concepts Inc., the licensing division of 4Kids Entertainment Inc.