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The problem they have is with licensed drag cars and their position is if the name is on the car and there is a accident at the drag strip where someone gets hurt, every name on the car gets sued. The Howie car used the Harrell name as a licensee for drag racing back then and when the car sold to a new owner it was no longer licensed. I personally think that all this comes with the territory when you trademark a name for commerce. I don't know all the facts on the Howie car history to know what is factual and what isn't and I don't care enough to read up on it but I do believe that every name on the car will get sued. Maybe the license fee goes for Insurance or maybe it doesn't.
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When Earnhardt was killed, did the "Mr. Goodwrench" family have to pony up any money? Or how about "the King" from the Burger King sponsor name? How about any of the other hundreds of stickers on that car? Survey says, "No". Liability (financial) comes from negligence, so unless Dick Harrell is selling booby-trapped parts from the grave I'd say Val & company have nothing to worry about...
There's already a precedent for lawsuits stemming from racing accidents that are *without* negligence (Lori Johns vs. Budweiser/Bernstein, dismissed) and *with* negligence (Julie Russell vs. NHRA/Goodyear, settlement)...it's all common sense. Just because there's a lack of lettering doesn't keep them from being named in a suit, or vice versa.
I do believe that Kool-Aid has soured, so I sure hope no one is drinking it...
