during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 31, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia.

Here's the video that reportedly infuriated a sponsor to the point of dumping Daniel Suarez


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The incident: Donuts.

The crime: Giving them out.

The penalty: Losing a sponsor

That's what reportedly has happened between Joe Gibbs Racing, Daniel Suarez and their sponsor, Subway. Sports Business Insider reported that the reason Subway may have killed the deal -- with one race left, to boot --- was because Suarez appeared in a silly video in which he helps give out Dunkin' Donuts to fans.

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Here's the crime:

It's silly, but you can see why Subway would be livid. If it's paying to sponsor a car -- in this case, the No. 19 from Joe Gibbs Racing --  why wasn't Suarez driving around hanging out Subway sandwiches instead, the thinking may have gone.

And, a JGR told Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

So far, there's been no official reason for the breakup, though Subway released a fairly cryptic statement,  that said, "Due to circumstances beyond our control, Subway had to terminate its sponsorship of Daniel Suarez." A Joe Gibbs spokesman wouldn't talk about the exact reason Subway dropped its sponsorship, but said it has nothing to do with a violation of a morals clause.

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And Suarez seemed unconcerned, in remarks to ESPN:

 In the race weekend, I don't really have time to think about that. I have to think about the race. ... Sponsorship comes and sponsorship leaves. That's part of racing. There's nothing we can do about it. I don't really know the reasons so there's not a lot I can add to it.

 

 

 

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