With the NASCAR Sprint Cup season nearing, some teams have secured primary sponsorship for their cars for the year.
Things will look nearly the same as last year for some cars. For others, there will be a new look such as Nature’s Bakery sponsoring Danica Patrick for 28 races and NAPA joining Chase Elliott at Hendrick Motorsports for 24 races.
Here’s a look at the primary sponsors this season for teams that had at least one car in the top 25 a year ago (some teams provided the number of races for each primary sponsor):
JOE GIBBS RACING
Winning the championship with Kyle Busch, in one way, didn’t impact sponsorship. Dave Alpern, chief marketing officer for Joe Gibbs Racing, said primary sponsorship already was sold for all the races on that car before this season.
A championship has meaning in other ways, though.
“Many of our sponsors like to say, ‘Big brands do big things,’ ’’ he said. “The more championships that you win and the more races you win, you solidify yourself as a premier brand. I think Kyle winning the championship rises the tide for everyone on our team.’’
Alpern said that JGR is sold out with its primary sponsorships for all of its cars.
Busch’s car will have primary sponsorship from Mars Brands, which includes M&M’s, Skittles and Pedigree Dog Food. Busch also will have primary sponsorship from Interstate Batteries.
Carl Edwards’ car will have primary sponsorship from Arris, Comcast, Stanley Tools and Subway.
Denny Hamlin’s car will have primary sponsorship from FedEx and Sport Clips.
Matt Kenseth’s car will have primary sponsorship from Dollar General and DeWalt.
STEWART-HAAS RACING
Nature’s Bakery will begin its first season as a primary sponsor for Danica Patrick, while Busch Beer will serve as the primary sponsor in place of Budweiser for 12 races for Kevin Harvick.
Tony Stewart has all his primary sponsors back for his final season in the Cup but looking to fill in some gaps left from Bass Pro Shops taking several of its races to Martin Truex Jr.
Kurt Busch will have primary sponsorship from Monster Energy and Haas Automation this season.
Here’s a look at the sponsorship for each team:
Danica Patrick
28 races with Nature’s Bakery
4 races with Aspen Dental
4 races with Tax Act
2 races sold but TBA
Kevin Harvick
21 races with Jimmy John’s (including Daytona qualifying race)
12 races with Busch or Busch Light
2 races with ditech
2 races with Outback
2 races with Mobil 1
Tony Stewart
(Number of races per sponsor unavailable)
Mobil 1
Bass Pro Shops
Rush Truck Centers
Code 3 Associates
Kurt Busch
20 races with Haas Automation (includes Daytona qualifying race)
18 races with Monster Energy (includes Sprint Unlimited & Sprint All-Star race)
1 race with State Water Heaters
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
Primary sponsorship for the cars of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson are sold. Primary sponsorship for Kasey Kahne and rookie Chase Elliott nearly are.
Here’s a look at how many races each driver will have with each primary sponsor:
Kasey Kahne
12 races with Farmers Insurance
10 races with Great Clips
3 races with LiftMaster
3 races with Quicken Loans
2 races with Panasonic
1 race with Mountain Dew
Chase Elliott
24 races with NAPA
5 races with 3M
2 races with Kelley Blue Book
2 races with Mountain Dew
Jimmie Johnson
38 races (36 points and 2 non-points races) with Lowe’s and affiliates
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
21 races with Nationwide
13 races with Axalta
3 races with Mountain Dew
1 race with TaxSlayer.com
FURNITURE ROW RACING
The focus is on finding additional sponsorship for Martin Truex Jr.’s team so the organization can expand to a two-car effort next season.
The team announced earlier this month that Bass Pro Shops would serve as a primary sponsor for eight points races and the qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway. Furniture Row, which is owned by team owner Barney Visser, will continue to serve as the primary sponsor on Truex’s car.
TEAM PENSKE
Primary sponsorship for the cars of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are both sold, the team reports. Car owner Roger Penske has established long relationships with some of his sponsors, so the lineup on each car does not look different from last year.
Brad Keselowski
24 races with Miller Lite (includes All-Star race)
8 races with Alliance Truck Parts
3 races with Wurth
2 races with AutoTrader
1 race with SKF (Sprint Unlimited)
Joey Logano
33.5 races with Shell Pennzoil
3 races with AAA
1.5 races with AutoTrader (co-primary with Shell Pennzoil for one race)
RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
The team has some spots available heading into the season but Ben Schlosser, chief marketing officer for Richard Childress Racing, notes that they’re “in really good shape” with their Sprint Cup teams.
Paul Menard has backing from Menards and various companies affiliated with Menards. Schlosser says that primary sponsorship on Austin Dillon’s car is “essentially full’’ with Dow, Cheerios, American Ethanol and Bass Pro Shops back. While Quicken Loans moved from Ryan Newman’s team to Hendrick Motorsports and Kasey Kahne, Schlosser said RCR is looking at other companies to fill in those spots. Newman again will have backing from Caterpillar, WIX and Grainger.
CHIP GANASSI RACING WITH FELIX SABATES
Jamie McMurray’s team will continue to have McDonald’s and Cessna as primary sponsors. Steve Lauletta, president of Chip Ganassi Racing, said that the team is looking to announce a new multirace partner before Daytona and that a couple of late-season races remain available on McMurray’s car.
Target is again back with Ganassi as a full-season sponsor — the company has been with Ganassi’s organization since 1990 — and will be the primary sponsor on Kyle Larson’s car. There will be some races where Target won’t be the primary sponsor, but it will be with a company affiliated with Target.
HSCOTT MOTORSPORTS
The team continues to look for sponsorship on its cars. Clint Bowyer will have 5-hour Energy as his primary sponsor in 24 races. The team also previously announced Peak and Blue DEF will be primary sponsors for two races and will have Visine for three races.
Bowyer’s teammate, Michael Annett, will have Pilot Flying J back as primary sponsor.
RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS
Primary sponsorship is filled on Aric Almirola’s car, while Brian Scott’s car has 12 races to fill, according to Brian Moffitt, chief executive officer at Richard Petty Motorsports.
Smithfield increased the number of races it is on Almirola’s car from 29 to 31 this season. Talks continue with some companies that have been with the organization in moving up to a primary sponsorship role on Scott’s car.
“There are a lot of conversations happening right now with corporations,’’ Moffitt said. “There’s an interest with being in NASCAR.’’
Aric Almirola
31 races with Smithfield
2 races with STP
2 races with U.S. Air Force
1 race with Fresh from Florida
Brian Scott
16 races with Shore Lodge/Albertsons
3 races with Twisted Tea
2 races with Goody’s
TBD races with GoBowling.com
ROUSH FENWAY RACING
Two teams will have a familiar look this season with sponsorship. AdvoCare is back as the primary sponsor for Trevor Bayne. Fastenal again will be the anchor primary sponsor for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with Fifth Third Bank and Zest on for select races.
The organization announced recently a multirace partnership with KFC for Greg Biffle’s car. His car also will be sponsored by Kleen Performance Parts and Cheez-It. The team is fielding interest from other potential sponsors.
JTG DAUGHERTY RACING
The team is close to selling all its primary sponsorship for the season for A.J. Allmendinger’s car.
JTG Daugherty will have The Kroger Company and its various brands serve as a co-primary sponsor in 23 races.
Longstanding partners Kingsford, Clorox, Bush’s Beans, Scott Products and Hungary Jack are all set to be on the car as a primary sponsor at times.
GERMAIN RACING
Geico is back as sponsor of the No. 13 car for Casey Mears. The company is with the team through 2018.