By David G. Firestone
So I’m back with four news stories that I felt that I needed to discuss. These aren’t in any particular order.
The first is the controversy of Hendrick Motorports and Hooters. Long time NASCAR fans know that Hooters has a long history sponsoring teams, drivers, and races in NASCAR. Hooters has sponsored Alan Kulwicki, Loy Allen Jr., Rick Mast, Brett Bodine, Jason White, Derrike Cope, Nelson Piquet Jr., Greg Biffle, and, most recently, Chase Elliott.
Well, the sponsorship with Chase Elliott came to an end on July 1, 2024. In a statement, Hendrick Motorsports stated:
“Hooters has been a valued partner of Hendrick Motorsports since 2017, contributing to our shared successes both on and off the track. In recent months, however, Hooters has not been able to meet its business obligations to our organization. Due to these unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, and despite extensive efforts on both sides to identify a workable solution, it became necessary for Hendrick Motorsports to end the relationship. It has been a privilege having Hooters as a part of our team and we wish them the best.”
The Jayski article has also noted that: “Hooters has struggled recently and just announced the closure of 44 locations nationwide.”
Let’s be honest, Hooters sucks. Their wings are meh, and there are plenty of other places that make better wings. The whole “hot women serving food” trope has been going out of style for years, and justifiably so. Hooters is another example of a product from a bygone era that is struggling to stay afloat. It’s just not good at all, so this comes as little surprise. Sometimes the end of an era is a good thing, and this one of those times. Goodbye Hooters, you won’t be missed.
Speaking of sponsorships, its come out that NASCAR is looking for a fifth “premier partner” for the Cup Series. Currently, the four premier partners are Xfinity, Geico, Coke, and Busch Light. According to Jayski, these partnerships are $15 million for 2-3 years, and Geico and Xfinity’s deals are soon to expire. NASCAR is working to resign, but is also looking for a fifth partner.
According to Jayski:
“Xfinity Mobile is a key product for Comcast and figures to be an important part of the next deal. Xfinity currently spends more than $10 million in the sport annually, all told, according to sources. The major question is whether Comcast will continue being both a premier partner of NASCAR and title sponsor of the Xfinity Series. Sources say it’s possible Xfinity could do a short-term renewal as title sponsor before shifting its relationship in the coming years to just being a premier partner.
Geico also is said to be in renewal discussions, and industry executives have waffled all year on whether the Berkshire Hathaway-owned insurer will renew. The company has had a multitude of executive and agency changes in recent years, which often equals change in sports marketing deals.”
All of this is understandable, but here is one my questions…Why aren’t Goodyear or Sunoco premier partners? The official tire and gas providers aren’t premier partners…why? How? Wouldn’t those two be perfect fits for the new premeir partners? Second How will this affect the charter negotiations? I honestly thought that the deal would be done by now. Let’s say that there is a fifth partner brought on before the end of 2024. Would the teams leverage for more money? There is already issues with a potential Netflix special being derailed due to charter negotiations. So how would this potential deal affect them? We will have to wait and see.
Now we get to the Grau Gauldng suspension. This was something i’ve had bookmarked for some time, but never got around to. We start on April 2.
According to TobyChristie.com:
“Gray Gaulding, a part-time competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, was arrested by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office at 7:17 AM ET on Tuesday, April 2 on Misd. Crime of Domestic Violence. Gaulding was released at 12:42 PM ET on Tuesday, April 2. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest to TobyChristie.com.”
The next day,NASCAR issued this statement:
“NASCAR officials issued an indefinite suspension to part-time driver Gray Gaulding on Wednesday evening.
The Charlotte (N.C.) Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Department listed Gaulding among its arrest records Tuesday. According to department records, the Cornelius Police Department arrested Gaulding on Tuesday morning on misdemeanor domestic violence charges. Gaulding was released from custody later that afternoon.
Gaulding has made 158 career starts across all three NASCAR national series, none of which have come this year.
The final update came on July 25, this one from Queen City News:
“A domestic violence charge has been dropped against a suspended NASCAR driver in Mecklenburg County, court records confirm.
Dwayne ‘Gray’ Gaulding Jr. had been charged with a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence for an incident that allegedly happened back in April.
In court on Thursday the charge was ‘voluntarily dismissed,’ according to documents.”
Well, it’s not like NASCAR lost anything of value. Gray Gaulding isn;t a powerhouse, he’s a back of the pack jack. He’s not in demand, and his career is really over by this point. Why waste any more time on him then?
With that, this week’s column comes to and end, and I will discuss the upcoming WWE and NASCAR broadcasting deals.
Sources cited:
Hendrick Motorsports ends sponsorship with Hooters
https://x.com/KellyCrandall/status/1807796747378315637
NASCAR looking at adding fifth premier partner
Gray Gaulding arrested on crime of domestic violence: UPDATES
NASCAR officials issue indefinite suspension to Gray Gaulding after arrest
https://www.qcnews.com/charlotte/suspended-nascar-driver-in-court-on-domestic-charge/
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