Homestead-Miami Speedway today will announce a new deal with Texas Roadhouse that will see the company build a pop-up restaurant and get concession rights at the track during the NASCAR season-ending weekend Nov. 16-18. Terms were not revealed. The steakhouse chain will build the pop-up shop at the ISC-owned track’s Geico RV Park, plus sell its ribs and other menu items at concession stands (Adam Stern, Staff Writer).
NOT THE END: ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass noted NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. plans on returning to Furniture Row Racing, indicating that the loss of 5-hour Energy as a 14-race sponsor after this season "makes contract talks more difficult" but is "not an impediment to getting a deal done." Bass Pro Shops "sponsors 16 points races" in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and Auto-Owners Insurance "has the other six on the Truex car." FRR also "must renew its deal with Toyota and its technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing" (ESPN.com, 7/20).
HOMETOWN HERO: In Las Vegas, Jesse Granger noted with his "flashy and unique suits," Nationals RF Bryce Harper has become somewhat of a "fashion plate in professional baseball." This is "thanks largely to the hometown haberdashery" named Stitched LifeStyle, which has suited him up since his wedding day in '16. Stitched Founder & President Eamon Springall said that Harper and his agent have been "approached by multiple fashion companies with sponsorship opportunities, but Harper declines them if he can’t continue wearing suits from Stitched." Springall now has "three Stitched shops," with his newest store in DC (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/22).
