ATLANTA — Despite a pending $100- million lawsuit filed by NASCAR against AT&T, the communications giant has signed a 10-year contract extension with Richard Childress Racing to remain as the primary sponsor of the No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet.
Cingular Wireless, which was recently purchased and rebranded by AT&T, has been the primary sponsor of the No. 31 since 2002. Since that time, with Jeff Burton and Robby Gordon as drivers, the No. 31 has earned four victories, four poles, 22 top-five and 54 top-10 finishes.
In a related move, Burton has also signed a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing.
“As longtime supporters of racing and its fans, we are very pleased to continue our involvement with the sport as a team sponsor in the wireless category,” said Dave Garver, executive director of high growth segments and sponsorships for the wireless division at AT&T. “We’ve enjoyed our relationship with Jeff and RCR  and look forward to continuing to work with them through many more winning seasons.”
After purchasing Cingular, AT&T was granted a preliminary injunction against NASCAR that allowed RCR to replace its Cingular livery with the AT&T logo. NASCAR contends that the re-branding violates its no-compete sponsorship agreement with Nextel, the sole name sponsor of NASCAR’s top series. Cingular predated Nextel in the series and was grandfathered in as a sponsor, but AT&T, according to NASCAR, should not be.
In its suit, NASCAR is claiming “breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation, and conspiracy to aid and abet wrongful interference with Nextel’s exclusive sponsorship agreement.”