So, you're convinced that the mere chance at winning $100,000 is what drives and determines the timing of these decisions?
"The major factor here is timing and money. More importantly $100,000 offered by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, the sponsor of the Skoal Showdown."
I think (an example) what I'm seeing are your opinions of why something happened stated as fact. Don't you think you should put something like "I believe" in front of it unless you have a way of knowing why Don Schumacher or Matco did something that you're not telling us?
I think it's just as likely as the other possibility you stated. "Whether Matco came out and said it directly or not, the underlying message here is 'We don't like Whit as a driver and that is why we are no longer sponsoring his car'."