Sponsorships are the lifeblood of NASCAR. Unlike the NBA or NFL where media rights and ticket sales carry the weight, NASCAR drivers and teams simply don’t survive without brand backing. Every decal on the car, fire suit, and pit wall isn’t just marketing; it’s payroll, car development, and travel expenses. When Kyle Busch straps into his Chevrolet or Bubba Wallace climbs into the No. 23 Toyota, they’re carrying the hopes of their sponsors as much as their teams, with every lap doubling as a rolling advertisement seen by millions. And a NASCAR exec feels that the sponsorship in NASCAR is even superior to other sports like the NBA or the NFL.
For teams, these deals determine whether they run a full season or scrape by part-time. For drivers, they can mean the difference between securing a