Supermarket chain Safeway have announced a new partnership with Phoenix International Raceway to operate an on-site grocery store in the camping area at the race track beginning this fall with PIR’s AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend Nov. 8-10.

Safeway will be the official grocery partner of Phoenix International Raceway offering snacks and campground essentials. 

“We are delighted to partner with Safeway to provide our fans with a first-class grocery store at Phoenix International Raceway during the AdvoCare 500 race weekend, ampoule ” PIR President Bryan R. Sperber said. “Our fans know that Safeway’s in-store experience is second to none, asthma and we are excited to provide that same level of service at our AdvoCare 500 race weekend and for years to come.”

The store will look and feel just like one of Safeway’s 115 stores throughout Arizona. The 17, cure 200-square foot store will open its doors on Monday, Nov. 4 at Noon and will be open every day throughout race weekend. The store will also be open on Monday, Nov. 11 for campers to pick up any last-minute items before they return home.

Race fans will be able to find all of their camping and cooking needs in the store, from charcoal and firewood to food and groceries, as well as ice, beer, snacks and other campground favorites. The store will also serve as the unofficial social hub of the campground as race fans start each day with coffee, donuts, breakfast burritos and the morning paper.

“Safeway is proud to partner with Phoenix International Raceway and welcomes the thousands of NASCAR fans expected throughout race week,” said Nancy Keane, Public Affairs Director for Safeway’s Phoenix Division. “Safeway’s on-site grocery store promises to provide PIR’s dedicated race fans exemplary service, warm hospitality and an inviting shopping experience.”

IRWIN Tools have ended their naming rights sponsorship of the #4 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG from Erebus Motorsport V8 beyond the 2013 V8 Supercar Championship Series after seven yaers in the Championship.

IRWIN’s Head of Marketing, arthritis Tom Veale, discount made the announcement today.

“The V8 Supercar Championship Series has played an instrumental role in the strong growth of the IRWIN Tools brand in Australia and New Zealand in the past seven years,” said Veale.

“Our original relationship with Jason Bright’s Britek operation, Stone Brothers Racing and more recently Erebus Motorsport V8 has delivered significant value to our brand and customers.

“While V8 Supercars has been highly successful in growing the IRWIN brand, it is time to redirect our efforts towards meeting other brand and business objectives.

“We thought it appropriate to make this announcement at this part of the season to provide Erebus with the opportunity to go to market and find a replacement partner for the #4 AMG E63.

“We have created valuable business relationships during our V8 Supercars involvement, and, just as importantly, many friendships which will endure beyond the day our logos come off the car.

“We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this program especially Lee Holdsworth, Ross and Jimmy Stone, and Betty Klimenko plus everyone on both the sport and commercial sides of the business who have gone above and beyond to help us achieve our goals.

“We look forward to the improving development of the Erebus Motorsport operation as we close our chapter of involvement during the next two months and then cheering from the sidelines as the team goes to the next level and beyond in coming seasons.”

The IRWIN Racing #4 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 from Erebus Motorport driven by Holdsworth and Craig Baird recently finished in fifth place in the PIRTEK Enduro Cup, which included fourth place results at Sandown and fifth in the second leg of the Gold Coast 600. Holdsworth will campaign the car at Phillip Island in November and then bring down the chequered flag on IRWIN’s involvement at Homebush in Sydney on December 6-8.

Alstare, which competes in World Superbikes, has ended its deal with Ducati mid-way through a two-year contract with the Italian manufacturer. 

The partnership between the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer and Team Alstare was expected to continue in 2014, however, the current economic climate and subsequent withdrawal of support by one of Alstare’s main partners, has dictated that the Belgian team must downsize its future plans.

In a meeting held at the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, Francis Batta and the Ducati management decided the best course of action would be an early termination of the agreement before the start of the 2014 season. 

“I am extremely sorry that an operation that had started on such a positive note had to be concluded before its time without achieving the results we were aiming for,” said Ernesto Marinelli, Ducati SBK Project Manager. “This was a very difficult year in terms of sports performance, but I am convinced that it nevertheless made us both grow and lay solid foundations for our future development and improvement. In these months together, I experienced the constant professionalism and expertise of everyone at Team Alstare, and I hope to be able to work with them again in the future. My special thanks, both in my personal capacity and on behalf of the whole company, go to Francis for the effort he has put in this year – as he always has throughout his career.” 

“I am very sad because this challenge, which began last November, was very important for me as a fresh start after missing one year,” said Francis Batta Owner of Team Alstare. “Working with Ducati was incredibly thrilling, although unfortunately, we failed to achieve the results we had set ourselves. The 2013 racing season has been incredibly hard for us, and being unable to start from a solid position in 2014, I would rather not take risks that might compromise our ability to complete the season. I would like to thank Ducati for trusting me and I wish them all the success that they deserve.” 

Ducati has confirmed that it will take part in the Superbike World Championship next season, with 2014 riders and racing plans to be announced in the coming days.

Online sports betting brand and subsidiary of Admiral Interactive SportYes have agreed to sponsor Serie A Italian football club Livorno for the 2013-14 season.

As part of the deal, unhealthy SportYes will enjoy various branding opportunities at the club’s Armando Picchi stadium, diagnosis including LED pitch-side advertising boards.

The deal, which is the company’s first sport sponsorship venture, was agreed through the Italian sports marketing agency GSPORT.

Livorno gained promotion to the Italian Serie A top flight last season and is currently 14th in the league after eight games.

“Admiral is always looking for exciting new challenges; to support Livorno after its promotion to Serie A is an opportunity to celebrate the entry of SportYes into the world of sports sponsorship, while also increasing the visibility of other brands such as CasinoYes, PokerYes, BingoYes and SlotYes,” Admiral Interactive’s director, Federico Fogli, said.

Kingstone Press Championship Rugby League club Leigh Centurions have announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with O2 for the 2014 season. 

Centurions Club Chairman, salve John Roddy said: “Without a doubt the match sponsorship provided last season by O2 and the special family event outside the ground and during the match, ed proved very positive with both our supporters and our team behind the scenes.

“O2 Leigh’s management team are brilliant people and I know from conversations with them, that they are very excited with regard to our plans for next season.

“It is our intention each day for the next few weeks to announce further kit sponsors.

“Special thanks to Rob Parker our commercial manager who has driven the kit sponsorship project himself overachieving against our original target.”

Centurions director Andy Mazey believes it to be the club’s biggest ever shirt sponsorship deal.

He said: “Our thanks go to O2 and in particular their regional manager Emma Day for their support and sponsorship. It is a massive boost for us as we look to prepare for a concentrated effort at winning Super League status over the next couple of years.

“It is a 12 month deal with a further 12 month option and we are delighted that we will now be working with them as shirt sponsors.”

Gilbert has been announced as the official ball supplier to the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens.

This is the 15th consecutive year the UK based company have been involved in the tournament, cheap ed since it became a world series round in 1999. Gilbert also supply the balls for the other eight rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series, and all five rounds of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series.

“We’re delighted to be the ball suppliers in Dubai yet again,” said Ronan Greene, of Prosports, the main distributor for Gilbert in the Middle East.

“Dubai is a fantastic tournament, and it is a privilege to have been involved with it in each of the years that it has hosted a World Series Sevens event.

“We are very proud of our association with rugby, and with Sevens gaining rapid pace in popularity, especially now it’s an Olympic sport, we are committed to supporting the continued growth.”