The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing has begun marketing entitlement sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series beginning with the 2009 season.

This follows a decision by Sears that its Craftsman brand will forgo its sponsorship rights following the 2008 season.

"Craftsman has been a great, longstanding partner and intends to remain in the sport," said Steve Phelps, NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer, in a joint announcement with Sears. "The current series name will continue through the 2008 season with the same great commitment Craftsman has demonstrated throughout its 13-year history as the series' entitlement sponsor."

"The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series represents some of the world's best racing; the season championship has been determined in the final race of the year in 12 of 13 seasons - including 2007," Phelps said. "The series continues to attract some of NASCAR's most avid fans because of its intense, side-by-side competition."

"Craftsman has been the sponsor of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since its inception in 1995 and since then we have developed strong relationships with millions of loyal NASCAR fans we value greatly," said Scott Howard, Manager of Marketing Partnerships for Sears. "While we will be relinquishing title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the end of 2008 we continue to explore new opportunities within NASCAR."

The series just wrapped up a successful 13th season of 25 races at 22 tracks in 19 states from coast-to-coast. Ron Hornaday Jr. won his third series championship with a record $1,137,044 in winnings.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is carried live by SPEED with two events broadcast live by FOX.
      
About NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is one of three national touring series sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc. The series, which began in 1995, has graduated a number of competitors into the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series. The 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series consists of 25 events at 22 tracks in 19 states from coast-to-coast. The schedule includes 19 events on superspeedways (oval tracks of one mile or more in length) and 6 events on short tracks (oval tracks of less than one mile in length). SPEED will provide live television coverage of 23 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races in 2008, with two events live on FOX. Additionally, the many affiliates of MRN Radio will air flag-to-flag coverage of the full schedule.