The new policy — established about six months after the National Rifle Association sponsored the Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway — was revealed in sanction agreements filed Friday by Dover Motorsports Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“As part of the normal course of annually reviewing our sanction language, there are some changes that take place,” NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said Monday. “This is one of those situations.”

In other words, NASCAR followed up on a promise it made back in April when Higdon said the controversial NRA sponsorship “has made it clear that we need to take a closer look at our approval process moving forward, as current circumstances need to be factored in when making decisions."

TMS officials have indicated the NRA will not return as the race sponsor. Whether NASCAR would now reject the NRA was not immediately clear since NASCAR has not received a request. But what is clear is that it would face more scrutiny in the past when NASCAR’s sanction agreements did not require formal approval and simply said, “NASCAR reserves the right to approve or disapprove any advertising, sponsorship or similar agreement in connection with the event.”

The 2014 sanction agreement now states that tracks must submit for approval all race entitlement sponsors.

“(NASCAR) will disapprove a prospective entitlement sponsor only if such prospective entitlement sponsor’s brand has been tarnished by, controversy, crisis or circumstance such that its association with the event would damage the NASCAR brand or the image of the sport or … it would damage the (broadcasting) network’s ability to sell advertising,” the sanction agreement states.

Among other parts of the process:

• NASCAR will keep the identity of prospective sponsors a secret and limit which NASCAR employees have knowledge of the request.

• If NASCAR rejects a sponsor, it will consider a modified sponsorship, the substitution of another brand owned by the same company or reconsider the sponsorship at a time when the company’s brand image has recovered.

• Tracks can appeal the decision to a three-member committee made up of NASCAR President Mike Helton, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell and one other NASCAR vice president.

“It is imperative that NASCAR events and industry sponsors reflect of the image of NASCAR as one of the world’s most successful and exciting sports entertainment properties and that fans feel comfortable and welcome attending or watching NEM (NASCAR Event Management) events,” the sanction agreement states.

“Therefore, NEM reserves the right to approve or disapprove any advertising, sponsorship or similar agreement in connection with the event.”


JTG SWITCHES TO CHEVY


JTG Daugherty Racing will switch from Toyota to Chevrolet for the 2014 season as it looks to improve on a disappointing 2013 when it finished 31st in the owner standings.

The team, co-owned by former NBA player Brad Daugherty, has formed a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing for 2014 and will use Earnhardt Childress Racing engines.

The move isn’t the only 2014 change for the organization. The team announced in October that AJ Allmendinger, who had five top-20 finishes in nine races for the team in 2013, will replace Bobby Labonte as the team’s full-time driver.

RCR will have alliances with three single-car organizations in 2014. It will continue its alliance with Furniture Row Racing (driver Martin Truex Jr.) and start new alliances with Germain Racing (Casey Mears) and JTG Daugherty Racing. RCR also will sell cars and lease engines to Tommy Baldwin Racing.

“We certainly appreciate all the support that TRD (Toyota Racing Development) has provided to JTG Daugherty Racing for five years and we are great fans of their business model,” JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement.

“As a single-car team, we feel that aligning directly with a successful multicar organization like Richard Childress Racing is what will work best for us in 2014.”


SPONSOR TO BACK TY DILLON


Bass Pro Shops will continue its support of Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon as a primary sponsor for 11 races in the Nationwide Series next season.

The company has long ties to team owner Richard Childress and has supported both of his grandsons (Austin and Ty Dillon) for several seasons. It also sponsors Tony Stewart for half of the Sprint Cup season.

The 21-year-old Dillon, who finished second in the Camping World Truck Series standings in 2013, will compete full time in the Nationwide Series next year. The team had previously announced an eight-race primary deal with Yuengling.

Contributors: Bob Pockrass, The Sporting News staff