3 most iconic sponsorships in NASCAR, ft. Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Budweiser

Sponsors play a key role in NASCAR, and some partnerships, like Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s with Budweiser, have become iconic, earning a special place in the hearts of fans. However, Dale Jr. is not the only driver with iconic sponsors.

Let's take a look at 3 of the most iconic partnerships in NASCAR.

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#1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Budweiser

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be racing in his iconic red #8 Budweiser car in the late-model car race scheduled at Florance Motor Speedway on November 23 and 24.

The beer company first sponsored Earnhardt Jr. from 1999 to 2007. During this time, he dominated the tracks in his red-and-black Bud King of Beers paint scheme, bagging 19 wins. Apart from Dale Jr., the beer brand has been the primary sponsor for Kevin Harvick and Ross Chastain.

In a recent interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s sister, Budweiser's sports marketing executive Steve Uline said (via Dirty Mo Media),

"When we did that deal, I said to myself, 'this is going to be the best deal I ever do in sports marketing.'"

Two-time Xfinity Series champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be racing with his iconic livery and number in the late model car series, reuniting with his former sponsor after a hiatus of 17 years.

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#2. Kevin Harvick and Busch Beer

The 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick drove for Stewart Haas Racing. While Budweiser was Harvick's first sponsor, Busch sponsored the driver in 2016 and stayed with him till his retirement. Busch Beer and Harvick had a special connection, and for one race they changed their name for him as his rivals shared the same last name with his sponsors.

Back in 2019, Busch Beer took a hilarious marketing step, while also aiming a jibe at Harvick's rivals Kyle and Kurt Busch. The beer company changed "Busch" to "Harvick" on the driver's car, while also releasing a video saying it was "taking a break from giving those other guys free advertising."

Harvick did not win the race and finished in fourth place, two spots above Kyle Busch and five above Kurt Busch.

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#3. Denny Hamlin and FedEx

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has the longest sponsor-driver relationship in NASCAR, his collaboration with FedEx having lasted for 20 seasons. He debuted in stock car racing in 2005, and since then FedEx has been Hamlin's sponsor. The #11 Toyota Camry driver won 47 races under the shipping company's sponsorship.

Reflecting upon his relationship with FedEx, Hamlin stated:

“It’s certainly emotional because of the relationship that I’ve had with them for 19 years. There’s not many out there anymore that are around that long, especially with all the opportunities to sponsor different sports leagues and arenas."

However, FedEx gradually reduced its investments in the Toyota team and sponsored only 13 races this season, including the final race. The duo parted ways after the Championship Four race held at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024. Denny Hamlin also shared an emotional video capturing his bittersweet moments with his sponsors.