Winston Cup Museum Founder Set to Appear in Court After Being Thrashed With Civil and Criminal Contempt

Back in December last year, the NASCAR community was buzzing with the news that Winston Cup Museum had to shut its doors after nearly two decades. The closure came on the heels of a drawn-out legal tussle with the company that took over the Winston brand. However, the troubles seemed to be far from over for the Cup Museum’s owner William Spencer.

The latest update in the tale is that on February 6, North Carolina Business Court’s Judge Adam Conrad is slated to preside over a hearing. The session will delve into ITG Brands’ request for both civil and criminal contempt charges against Spencer.

The upcoming hearing will be streamed online

Judge Conrad announced that the hearing, kicking off at 11 a.m., will be a digital affair, conducted over Webex. The virtual gathering is the latest chapter in a drawn-out legal drama. The bone of contention? Whether marketing rights for the Winston traditional cigarette brand cover memorabilia from the Winston Cup Series.

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Under the state’s rules, Spencer could be facing up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $500 if he’s found guilty of criminal contempt. On the civil contempt side, he might be looking at jail time ranging from 90 days to a year unless he retracts the offending statements.

The crux of ITG’s Dec. 8 motion is that Spencer stepped over the line by sharing a link on the museum’s Facebook page to a YouTube video by NASCAR historian Marshall Stapleton. In the 79-minute video, Spencer spilled the beans on various Winston Cup and NASCAR collectibles. ITG is up in arms, labeling the video as “disparaging and defamatory.”

ITG’s stance is that any Winston Cup-related items made post-2003, the year R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. wrapped up its NASCAR sponsorship, are counterfeit. Spencer, however, refuted this claim. Regardless of how this legal tussle pans out, the museum remains committed to preserving the legacy of this iconic era in racing history.

The digital future of Winston Cup Museum containing NASCAR memorabilia

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In a new chapter for the museum, its cherished collection of 32 cars and a treasure trove of memorabilia, including fire suits, helmets, and trophies signed by racing greats, is set to go under the hammer. Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida, has been chosen for this monumental sale, which is on the calendar from January 2 to 14.

But for those who can’t stretch their wallets to own a piece of this collection, there’s no need to fret. Despite the physical closure, the museum’s founder, Will Spencer, isn’t throwing in the towel on preserving this historic era. Spencer is gearing up to launch an online and social media presence with a new name – the Win Cup Museum.

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However, as part of the deal struck with ITG in March 2022, when Spencer moves to digitize all the physical photos and videos, he’s obliged to hand over a complete inventory to ITG. This list will include everything from photos and videos to the rest of the personal property in the museum and warehouses and even the Winston Cup cars.