Wheels & Deals: Budweiser Celebrates Career Of Dale Earnhardt Jr. In New Ad

Budweiser today released a tribute ad around retiring NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will race in his final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event this weekend. The spot centers around Earnhardt’s famous No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo car that he used in the early part of his career. It alternates between a scene with the car zooming around an empty Daytona Int'l Speedway and old highlights of the saga that saw his father, NASCAR HOFer Dale Earnhardt Sr., pass away at Daytona in early '01 before Earnhardt Jr. won the next race there later that year. Budweiser joins other current or former partners of Earnhardt who have released tribute spots, including Chevrolet, Nationwide and NASCAR (Adam Stern, Staff Writer).

STICKING WITH THE KING: NBCSPORTS.com's Jerry Bonkowski noted STP yesterday announced that it "will return as a primary sponsor of the No. 43 Ford Fusion for two races" in '18 with Richard Petty Motorsports. The two races for which STP will serve as primary sponsor "have not been revealed," but driver Bubba Wallace "believes at least one of those races will be at Martinsville, while the other may potentially be the throwback race at Darlington." The renewal by STP is the "second sponsorship announcement by RPM in just over a week." At Texas, the company "announced a partnership with mortgage company 'Click N’ Close,' which is making its first foray into NASCAR" (NBCSPORTS.com, 11/13).

BURNING RUBBER: MOTORSPORT.com's Lee Spencer reported Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is "close to announcing its new deal with NASCAR." The Akron-based manufacturer "has been involved in the sport" since '54 and for the last two decades has been the "exclusive tire supplier for NASCAR's top three series." Goodyear GM of Worldwide Racing Stu Grant said, "We are very close to being able to make an announcement." He added, "We anticipate being around next year." Goodyear Racing "last signed a five-year extension" in '11, and it is "set to expire at the end of this year" (MOTORSPORT.com, 11/13).