The sponsorship picture at Joe Gibbs Racing is set to undergo a vast change next season, The Observer has learned.
At a news conference Thursday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dollar General is expected to announce will greatly increase its involvement in NASCAR, sponsoring both Sprint Cup and Nationwide series teams at JGR in 2012, several sources confirmed.
Among the changes:
-Dollar General will become the primary sponsor on driver Joey Logano's No. 20 Toyota in the Cup series for 10 to 12 races in 2012.
-Dollar General will become the primary sponsor on JGR's No. 11 Nationwide Series team driven by Brian Scott.
-The company will also be the primary sponsor for several races for JGR's Nos. 18 and 20 Nationwide teams.
Dollar General will likely also continue its involvement with the Truck series team owned by JGR driver Kyle Busch, sources said.
A JGR spokesman declined to comment on Tuesday when asked about the sponsorship changes.
The move means Home Depot, which has been a primary sponsor in the Cup series with JGR since 1999, will relinquish roughly a third of the races on the No. 20 next season.
There was no immediate comment from Home Depot officials.
Dollar General has been involved in NASCAR sponsorship since 2006 with several organizations, including Kevin Harvick Inc., Braun Racing (now Turner Motorsports) and KBM.
