Sponsors: From This To That

Dave Fulton's forum post about Dale Jr's mention of Schlitz got me to wondering about how many drivers and/or teams we can remember who switched from a product to a competing one as a sponsor. I'm sure its happened a good bit so hopefully plenty of replies will follow.

Here is a primer:

• Bill Elliott - from Coors to Budweiser
• Ken Schrader - from Kodiak to Skoal
• Richard Petty / Petty Enterprises - Pepsi to Coke (though I have my doubts if the King ever actually took up swigging a Coke product)
• Kyle Busch - from NOS energy drink to Monster
• Junior Johnson - Holly Farms Chicken to KFC (too much of a stretch?)

What other drivers and sponsors can you think of?

This will be a really good head scratching exercise. After this we can list the racetracks who've had competing sponsors.

I often though about that myself...especially with Bill. I bet that was just a 'kick in the face' to Coors when Junior's deal was announced.

Although owned by the same parent company - Darrell Waltrip - Mt. Dew to Pepsi

Jeff Gordon - Coke to Pepsi (Associate)

Benny Parsons - Skoal to Copenhagen

Phil Parsons - Copenhagen to Skoal (I think they both are/were owned by the same company though)

Whether this counts or not....Alan Kulwicki first drove a Hardee's car, then Quincey's Steak House, and then finally Hooters. Although notconsecutively.

I'm sure I can think of more....just have to look at the old WInston Cup Yearbooks (My Favorite)

Yes, I think we'd have lots of multi-product/service sponsorships to add to the thread - especially in this day and age of high cost of sponsorships, big companies, diverse marketing strategies, and vinyl wraps. Last weekend's winner, Denny Hamlin, has a FedEx deal that is specifically built around different service offerings.

And certainly we've had our share of changes in sponsorships in indirectly related products such as DW (Gatorade to Mountain Dew to Bud) or Bobby Allison (Gatorade to Miller). But I'm trying to think of head-to-head types of products such as oils, batteries, beers, soft drinks, financial services, cereals, etc.

Neil Bonnett - from Valvoline to CITGO?

(though CITGO's sponsorship was thinly-veiled advertising gasoline, right?)