Originally Posted by Evan Knoll

Hello to all here.
1st off on Mels car it was said from me that "no way" will the V sticker be put on that car and Mikes car also.
2nd. Don went out and got the V to sponsor his cars etc and that is true I dont own Mels stuff but the fact is anything on that unit must go thru me before its put on its my $$$$$$$$$$$ that is behind that team.
3rd. Lucas oil and the family is a great friend of mine and we do business togeather and to sell someone down the river for a few bucks after what that man has done in racing and FREE oil and additives and posting $$$$$ is not cool with me. Keep in mind this is being done Mid-Season and I beleave thats just wrong. I Heard about this when I was in Indy and I went in the lanes and started to take off the V stickers on Mels unit.
4th Don and I talked and its all ok now he can keep the V stickers on Mikes unit.
5th. Jr's dragster had the V sticker on it and the deal was DONE before I came into a sponsor realionship with them.
6th. I will be running another Top Fuel team with Lucas oil next year as a two car team.

Thanks Evan Knoll.

Originally Posted by Alan Loder

So any sponsor of any team can do whatever they want? That's what is implied here. Don OWNS Melanie's team/car/assets. I know this for fact. That is his team, to do what HE wants with. I appreciate what Evan has done for the sport, but that car is not his to make decisions, associate sponsor or otherwise. And like someone else said, JR has Valvoline as an associate sponsor.

Now if Don manages Mike's car, but Evan owns it, then Evan can make decisions as he wants to. Much the same that Ken Black can do what he wants with Hillary's car, regardless of what the Kalitta camp thinks.

Originally Posted by Tim Roberts

I would like to say thanks to Evan Knoll, Forrest Lucas and Don Shumacher for supporting our sport! Our pro categories would have far less cars and the competition wouldnt be nearly what it is, if it wasnt for you guys (Evan and Lucas) funding such great competitors and (Don Shumacher) for bringing in great sponsors to give several racers the opportunity to continue to race. Think about how many teams were on the brink of being "parked" due to lack of funding and were saved by these guys!!!
I know there are several other people who contribute to drag racing (JFR, DPR, etc..) but these guys just go above and beyond for our sport and deserve OUR thanks...So next time you see these guys at the races just say thanks!

Originally Posted by Erica Ortiz

I can see where there is a problem...

Sponsorship isn't supposed to be all about someone just handing over money. Its supposed to be a 2-way street, where both the sponsor and the sponsoree benefit from a mutual relationship. IE: The company and branding exposure from being associated with said team. A sponsor depends on using its sponsored car as a vehicle and representative of their company. Now, what happens when the owner also signs another associate sponsor that has a conflict of interest? The exclusivity of the person sponsoring the car is one of the key benefits... I don't think you'd see a Miller Lite sticker on Bernsteins' operation. And if you did, wouldn't Budweiser have the right to be upset?

Business is business. You enter into a partnership of any sort, and you now have more people to be concerned with keeping happy than yourself. If you don't want outside input, then fund a team 100% out of your own pocket. Then there isn't anyone that can say anything about it.

Originally Posted by Jim Walczak

Finally a voice of reason.