3 most iconic NASCAR sponsors in the history of the competition

Iconic cars, iconic racers, and iconic finishes: ask a NASCAR enthusiast, and they will have an answer ready for you at the tip of their tongue. Sponsors are an often overlooked detail of what goes into making some of these memories special. A sponsor who perhaps immortalized a player to the point where the player and the company are synonymous, or a sponsor who stuck their head out for the betterment of teams in dire circumstances—let's take a dive into the stories of three such iconic sponsors in the history of NASCAR.

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#1. Goodyear

The longevity of Goodyear Tires and Rubber Company in NASCAR needs to be studied to be understood. Be it race cars, tires, tracks, or jerseys, Goodyear's long-standing affiliation with NASCAR makes them one of the most iconic sponsors in NASCAR's history. 1954 was the first time Goodyear partnered up with NASCAR as the "official tire" of the series. NASCAR has continued the collaboration even after seven decades, as Goodyear continues to be the designated "Official Tire of NASCAR" in 2024.

"Goodyear has been a trusted partner to the NASCAR industry since 1954, playing a critical role in our shared pursuit to deliver the best racing in the world," said Steve Phelps, president of NASCAR, in a press release announcing Goodyear's multi-year contract renewal with NASCAR.

"For more than 25 years, Goodyear Eagle tires have been the only component that connects the stock car to the racetrack. Our continued partnership will allow us to push boundaries and innovate our racing product for generations to come." Phelps further added.

In 2023, Goodyear partnered up with Chevrolet and Hendricks' Motorsports to field an entry in the legendary 24-hour Le Man's Race on the occasion of Le Man's 100th anniversary.

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#2. STP

Richard Petty's iconic STP-sponsored Chevrolet

Richard "the King" Petty and STP's relationship is one for the history books. Petty, arguably one of the most decorated players in NASCAR history, first teamed up with STP way back in 1972. Petty was an STP man during his 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1979 championship-winning seasons.

Petty, in a press release for STP, had this to say:

“STP was the first nationwide sponsor in Cup racing.You'd always have mom and pop’s grocery store or somebody’s garage or somebody’s dealership, but that was done mostly on a local basis. Nobody had a nationwide deal. That was the first time bringing Cup racing to the nation."

Petty's STP sponsorship lasted for more than three decades, and their association continues on a personal basis.

Other than Petty, STP was last seen sponsoring Erik Jones in the 2023 All-Star race.

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#3. DuPont

Jeff Gordon's famous DuPont-sponsored car [USA TODAY]

The iconic 1992 DuPont Flames race car with Jeff Gordon at the wheel is still vivid in many people's memories.

Gordon rode the DuPont-sponsored car for the first time in 1992. Only three seasons later, Gordon became the youngest driver in the modern era, at the age of 24, to win the Premier Series championship. The late '90s and early 2000s were synonymous with Gordon's stylish #24 car crossing the finish line in first place, with title wins in 1997, 1998, and 2001.

In 2022, Henderson MotorSports, DuPont, and Gordon celebrated the 20th anniversary of their collaboration.

"DuPont gave a young guy with a dream a shot, and I'll never forget that," Gordon said in the anniversary press release.

"They have been a partner in so many more ways than just sponsoring our team. Over the past two decades, not only have they supported the business of racing at Hendrick Motorsports and my career, but we have built very strong relationships with all of the DuPont employees."

DuPont (now Axalta) will sponsor Hendrick Motorsports in 2024, continuing the longstanding relationship between the two.