NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has shed light on Landon Huffman's sponsorship deal with his alcohol brand, High Rock Vodka.
zMAX CARS Tour returned to action last weekend with its National Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram 250 race at New River All-American Speedway. Three-time zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock champion Bobby McCarty crossed the finish line ahead of Mini Tyrrell to secure his first victory in the fourth event of the season.
Among other notable incidents from the night, Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the co-owners and drivers of the zMAX CARS Tour, was involved in an 80th-lap incident with former NASCAR driver Landon Huffman.
Speaking about the 28-year-old driver and his sponsorship deal with Earnhardt's very own High Rock Vodka, the two-time Xfinity Series champion revealed in a recent episode of the Dale Jr Download podcast:
"He's got the High Rock deal. He's earned that. Like he did that himself. I introduced him to some folks at High Rock and he took it from there."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. further emphasized his hands-off approach to the sponsorship deal, advising High Rock Vodka to sponsor Huffman based on their own interests rather than his preferences. He revealed:
"I told High Rock, I said, 'Don't sponsor this guy because you think that's what I want you to do. You only sponsor Landon if you want to.' I said, 'If you're wanting to get into sponsoring a grassroots guy, go take a look at him.' They liked him. And they made that work and he's made it work."
Landon Huffman's High Rock deal is "completely separate" from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Explaining the nature of Huffman's sponsorship deal, Earnhardt Jr. clarified:
"That deal is completely separate from me. I have nothing to do with that sponsorship. I don't know what what it is. I don't know how much it is. I don't know what their deal is."
Despite the accident with Huffman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. managed to cross the finish line in 14th position.
Speaking of his own racing experience from the night, the former NASCAR Cup Series driver expressed satisfaction despite some setbacks on the track. He stated (via The Daily News):
"I had a great time. I made a few mistakes on the racetracks that cost us an opportunity at a good finish but just a great racetrack, great turnout, great crowd. I signed a lot of autographs and met a lot of folks and definitely want to come back and try to race again and do better than I did tonight."