Hearing on docket for NASCAR-AT&T dispute

NASCAR finds itself dealing with significant developments on two fronts in the legal system these days.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, in which AT&T will seek a preliminary injunction that would allow its logos to be displayed on Jeff Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolets.

Jeff Burton’s team had a sponsorship deal with Cingular, which has since merged with AT&T. NASCAR ruled that AT&T logos could not be placed on Jeff Burton’s car because of its deal with Sprint Nextel, the title sponsor of the Nextel Cup Series.

Cingular was “grandfathered” in under the deal with Sprint Nextel deal, signed in 2003, but NASCAR says that clause does not allow for any name change for the primary sponsor on the car. AT&T sued saying its contracts with Richard Childress Racing don’t preclude a name change.

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