Jimmie Johnson

Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler have more than 1,500 starts between them in NASCAR’s top three divisions. Both men competed for championships, winning multiple Cup races while driving for two of the sport’s legendary teams. (Sadler drove for Robert Yates Racing while Kahne spent six years running for Hendrick Motorsports). Corporate branding has put them successfully at the forefront of sponsorships with companies like M&M’s, Red Bull, Dodge and OneMain Financial.

Pocono Raceway holds court this weekend to a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race that’s... a little dormant. Seven drivers have already clinched their spot by virtue of at least one victory; another eight are at least 95 points above the cutline.

NASCAR’s Silly Season, the name given to the sport’s free agent period typically revolves around driver and crew chief changes. But in 2018, a year when most big names are signed to long-term deals there’s a new, worrisome card shuffling the deck.

Major sponsorship.