No Bull Five News:

[Speed Racer]

Changes are expected to be announced soon in R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's No Bull Five fan-driver bonus program. The five-year-old program paid million-dollar prizes to drivers and fans at selected Winston Cup races. Drawings paired five drivers and fans at each race, and a victory won $1 million for the driver and his fan. RJR officials have discussed major changes in the program and, in the next few days, are expected to announce how the 2003 version will operate. "Some people think it's served its purpose, and you either change it or look to do other things," said RJR spokesman Denny Darnell. "We've looked at a couple of variations of the program."(Greenville News)

 

[Speed Racer]

Update: No more "No Bull"

By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer

R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. announced on Monday its Winston brand will not continue the Winston No Bull 5 program in 2003.
The No Bull 5, a bonus program for both drivers and fans, was introduced in 1998 in celebration of NASCAR's 50th anniversary.

Five races were picked prior to the start of each season in which one of five drivers was eligible to win $1 million if he won the race. In recent seasons, fans were paired with the drivers, allowing a fan to win $1 million as well if one of the eligible drivers won the event.

"The Winston No Bull 5 program was a very successful program for the Winston brand," said Ned Leary, president of RJR's Sports Marketing Enterprises. "However, we are constantly evaluating the allocation of resources.

"For 2003, the decision has been made to deploy those resources in other areas."

Leary said the decision to end the bonus program did not affect the company's sponsorship of NASCAR's Winston Cup series, which RJR has sponsored the past 32 years.