And if Jr were to get a sponsorship deal from Schlitz, he'd have somewhat of an indirect family relationship to the past with the brand. Tommy Houston - the father of Jr's step-mother, Teresa Earnhardt's uncle - once raced with Schlitz sponsorship.
Source: Kent Benfield
Source: Kent Benfield
Source: Kenny Lang
And alas, in 1980 F&M Schaefer Brewing Company sold to Stroh Brewing Co - 2 years before Stroh bought Schlitz.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_UVPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FwMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6972%2C4071510
Then in 1999, Stroh and its acquired brands were sold to Pabst Brewing who still owns them today.
While I don't think Jr owes any loyalty to the sponsor from his DEI days, Bud isn't the first legacy sponsor he has moved on from.
Is it blasphemy that he now pitches for Mountain Dew vs. the original southern citrus drink: SunDrop?
Agreed re: Smoke's preference. A friend of mine who is a big Stewart fan somehow landed the opportunity to be at a party in his condo in Indy. Said the refrigerator was PACKED with Schlitz. Tony and Jr. are pretty good buds, so it doesn't surprise me perhaps that Jr. could be persuaded to imbibe in it - especially since the Bud days are behind him.
Schlitz is owned by Pabst Brewing, and its one of the 5 brands the new owners are trying to expand along with PBR, Colt 45, Old Milwaukee, and Lone Star. With Tony's sponsorship needs, maybe he can indeed land some Schlitz dollars + a personal services deal for Jr.
But, I think the reference to the brew in the context of Jr's interview was simply to have a PG-13 edgy name for his fantasy football team: Schlitz Happens.
One still in Gatlinburg.
We had one in Hermitage (a suburb of Nashville) for several years that my dad liked. But I don't think its around anymore.
And maybe RacersReunion member Dave Marcis can get us all a table at Staley's Steak House in Winston-Salem.
(1992 North Wilkesboro - sourced from Beitaness at Historical Stock Car Racing Forum)
I bet Frank Warren could have gotten you a good deal on a prime cut of beef at The Peddler Steak House back in 1969.(from Ray Lamm collection )
And to be clear, my offer of a Shoney's t-bone is only to Jeff. Hadn't planned to cover the costs for everyone here. If I'm asked to do that, the best I can offer is a can of jerky.
Sometimes a steak is just too much. And oftentimes, a Slim Jim is *blehh* just too chewy and salty. In those situations, just a good ol' bologna sammich gets the job done.
I tend to be a pretty frugal guy. How about a piece of shoe leather ... err, I mean... a t-bone from Shoney's.
