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NASCAR News and Notes
NASCAR Partners with Boys & Girls Clubs
BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
NASCAR and Boys & Girls Clubs of
America announced a multiyear partnership that will support the nonprofit’s mission of enabling and enriching the lives of young people.
As the Official Youth Community Partner of NASCAR, Boys & Girls Clubs of America will work with NASCAR and industry stakeholders to engage more than 4.6 million youth and teens across the country with NASCAR content and experiences. The nationwide partnership will focus on three core areas – STEM education, career development and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives – and extend across all NASCAR platforms and race tracks. Programming will include both virtual and at-track experiences with an emphasis on local Boys & Girls Club locations within NASCAR race markets.
Partnership efforts will build on the continuing work of The NASCAR Foundation to advance children’s well-being, including ongoing relationships with several Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY HAS
unveiled the logo for the 2022 Daytona 500. It features the iconic 2.5-mile tri-oval layout with symbolic stars and stripes.
–CHASE ELLIOTT
DEALS ON WHEELS SPONSORSHIP NEWS
CARPARTS.COM INKS MCDOWELL
CARPARTS.COM INC. HAS LAUNCHED A
national ad campaign featuring Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell.
Continuing its mission to simplify the auto parts shopping experience and help drivers get back on the road, CarParts. com aims to connect with consumers through inspirational and entertaining content, leaning into McDowell’s story of perseverance as well as his quirky personality. Campaign elements will run on national television and digital and social platforms throughout the year.
KING’S HAWAIIAN SIGNS
NASCAR AND KING’S HAWAIIAN
announced a multiyear track official partnership that secures the family-owned bakery naming rights to dining areas at four NASCAR-owned facilities – Daytona International Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Richmond Raceway and Phoenix Raceway.
King’s Hawaiian will work with Levy, NASCAR’s track hospitality partner, to offer branded and regionally themed menu items at each venue. King’s Hawaiian celebrated the start of its NASCAR partnership March 12-14 at Phoenix Raceway.
NETFLIX PRODUCING BUBBA WALLACE DOCUMENTARY
NETFLIX IS IN PRODUCTION ON A NEW
documentary series with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace as he competes in his first season for the new 23XI Racing team owned by Michael Jordan and fellow driver Denny Hamlin.
The show will take viewers behind the scenes of this season and explore Wallace’s efforts to advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion in NASCAR and America. 300 Studios and Boardwalk Pictures are producing the series.
NASCAR Foundation Celebrates 15 Years
Early this year, the NASCAR Foundation celebrated its 15th anniversary and did it on
the birthday of its founder and chairwoman emeritus, Betty Jane France.
The day featured a virtual Town Hall Meeting with Lesa France Kennedy, Ben Kennedy and Mike Helton. The esteemed leadership group shared admiration for the work The NASCAR Foundation is doing as it continues Mrs. France’s legacy of helping children.
Since being founded in 2006, The NASCAR Foundation has raised nearly $40 million to impact the lives of more than 1.4 million children in NASCAR-served communities. Over the years, two of the pillars of The NASCAR Foundation have been the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and the Speediatrics Children’s Fund.
The NASCAR Foundation has contributed $1.77 million to children’s charities represented by award finalists over that time, and those charities have been able to serve the needs of 354,647 children.
• The NASCAR Foundation annually awards the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award to a NASCAR fan who is a dedicated volunteer working on behalf of children’s causes. Pictured are the 2019 finalists (L-R)Todd Smith, Bob Behounek, Angela Hamby and Joe Vaughn.
NASCAR BUSINESS INITIATIVES
RICHMOND RACEWAY TEAMS WITH VSU TO CREATE ESPORTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Richmond Raceway and Virginia State
University have joined forces on a pilot program to evolve the race track’s current eSports team and offer new opportunities to historically black colleges and university students interested in careers in sports management.
Through this strategic alliance, Richmond Raceway eSports fueled by Sunoco operations will be managed in partnership with Virginia State University’s Department of Sport Management.
NASCAR HELPS WITH VACCINE EDUCATION
As an extension of their COVID-19 Vac-
cine Education Initiative, “It’s Up To You,” the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative launched a campaign in partnership with 13 leading sports leagues, including NASCAR.
The videos encourage fans to visit GetVaccineAnswers.org for the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Partners supporting the PSAs include Bank of America, which is donating more than $1.7 million in ad inventory to help the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative reach sports fans.
MICHAEL WALTRIP BREWING CO. LAUNCHES
Michael Waltrip Brewing Co., founded by
two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, plans to open a brewery and taproom in Bristol, Virginia, with plans to produce Waltrip’s Two-Time lineup of lagers and ales for distribution throughout the Southeast.
Anticipated opening is early to mid-summer.
All three signature brews of Michael Waltrip’s Two-Time lineup will be produced in Bristol: a Blonde Ale; Checkered Past, a coconut India Pale Ale; and Vamanos, a Mexican-style Lager.
NASCAR’S NEXT GEN CARS COMBINE UNMISTAKABLE IDENTITY WITH ENHANCED PERFORMANCE
Three NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen cars made a dramatic, roaring entrance during early May in Charlotte.
When reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott drove the Chevrolet Camaro, Joey Logano the Ford Mustang and Denny Hamlin the Toyota Camry roughly 30 yards in the unveiling of the much-anticipated Next Gen car, the most striking aspect was how much the new race cars resembled their production counterparts—and how easy it was to differentiate the new vehicles from one another.
“This is a significant moment for our sport,” NASCAR president Steve Phelps said. “This car is more relevant and includes more innovation than any car in NASCAR history. The styling of the car is clear. I mean, they look unbelievable. Just so incredible to finally be here. “We really wanted to get back to a promise that we had made to the fans, which is to put the ‘stock’ back in ‘stock car.’ That was something extremely important to us and our fans. But just as important to our fans is the racing on the race track. It’s hard to believe that the racing could be any stronger than it is last year and the first 11 races this year, but this car has features that will make it even better.
“Simply put, this car will make our sport healthier and stronger. It’s an exciting day for our industry and our fans, and I’m proud of all the work that went into bringing us to today.”
Based on data gleaned from simulations and from limited testing of small numbers of Next Gen vehicles, NASCAR expects the new race car to be more challenging to drive and more exciting to race. As Elliott put it, it’s a clean slate for the best stock car drivers in the world.
“I’m excited about the product that we came up with and a lot of collaboration with all of our key partners at Chevrolet within the NASCAR teams to have a product that looks as good as it does and is much like the car and the Camaro you can go buy at your Chevrolet dealership, too,” Elliott said. “Excited about that.
“Selfishly, as a driver, I’m excited about the challenge. I think it’s going to be tough. There’s going to be things with this car I haven’t seen as a race car driver yet. Until you get on track and work through it, it’s going to be tough. I’m looking forward to all the things that come with that, trying to reinvent yourself as a driver to see what you have to do to be good.” BY REID SPENCER, NASCAR WIRE SERVICE
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
