Category: Press Releases

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Jan. 31, 2023) – SUNNYD, part of Harvest Hill Beverage Company, has partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), the championship-winning NASCAR team.

Known as the most refreshing orange drink in existence, SUNNYD will serve as the primary sponsor for two NASCAR Cup Series races with driver Kevin Harvick and SHR’s No. 4 team. When not the primary sponsor, SUNNYD will have a yearlong associate presence on the No. 4 Ford Mustang with branding on Harvick’s firesuit.

The No. 4 SUNNYD Ford Mustang will debut May 14 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, a track where Harvick has won three of his 60 career Cup Series victories. SUNNYD returns to the No. 4 as a primary sponsor Sept. 10 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, another track where Harvick has three Cup Series wins.

In addition to joining Harvick, SUNNYD will serve as a yearlong associate partner of SHR’s No. 98 team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with driver Riley Herbst. To kick off the partnership, the 23-year-old Herbst will make his Cup Series debut in the season-opening Daytona 500 driving a SUNNYD-sponsored Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing.

“NASCAR has proven to be an excellent platform for the SUNNYD brand and it’s why we’ve joined Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Ilene Bergenfeld, CMO, Harvest Hill Beverage Company. “Being a part of Kevin Harvick’s final season as a NASCAR Cup Series driver holds a tremendous amount of value because of all that he’s accomplished in the sport.

“To have a veteran in Kevin and a next-generation talent in Riley Herbst allows SUNNYD to resonate with fans who have known Harvick since his Cup Series debut 23 years ago, as well as young fans new to the sport who see a little bit of themselves in Riley.”

Earlier this year, Harvick announced that the 2023 season would be his last as a Cup Series driver. The 47-year-old from Bakersfield, California, is currently tied for ninth on the Cup Series’ all-time win list.

“As a Gen-Xer, I’ve grown up with SUNNYD. It’s very fitting that I get to represent them in my last year in NASCAR,” said Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion. “Our desire to win and compete for a championship is as strong as ever and I’m happy to have SUNNYD a part of our race team.”

Harvick’s final season kicks off with the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum Feb. 5 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before the official start of the 2023 campaign with the 65^th annual Daytona 500 Feb. 19 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Each event will be broadcast live on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Harvest Hill Beverage Company:
Harvest Hill Beverage Company, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is owned by private equity firm Brynwood Partners, and acquired the SUNNYD brand from J.W. Childs in February 2016. Harvest Hill markets some of America’s most beloved beverage brands, including SUNNYD, JUICY JUICE, LITTLE HUG and DAILY’S Cocktails. SUNNYD products are widely distributed through leading retailers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For complete nutrition facts, recipe and activity ideas, and other helpful information, visit SUNNYD.com. For more information on Harvest Hill, please visit www.HarvestHill.com.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Jan. 26, 2023) – Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has signed driver Chase Briscoe to a multiyear contract extension, keeping the 28-year-old racer in its No. 14 Ford Mustang for many more seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series.

SHR promoted Briscoe to the Cup Series in 2021 after he won a season-best nine races during his 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign. Briscoe continued to perform in Cup, handily winning the rookie-of-the-year title. The Mitchell, Indiana-native then enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, winning his first Cup Series race on March 13, 2022 at Phoenix Raceway in just his 40th career start. The victory secured Briscoe’s place in the NASCAR Playoffs and earned him the honor of being the 200th Cup Series winner in NASCAR history.

“Chase has made the most of every opportunity and the proof is in the results. Keeping him at SHR was a priority and we’re proud to have him in our racecars for many more years to come,” said Tony Stewart, the NASCAR Hall of Famer who co-owns SHR with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas.

Briscoe enters 2023 representing primary partners Mahindra Ag North America, HighPoint.com, Rush Truck Centers, Magical Vacation Planner, Ford Performance Racing School, Code 3 Associates, Cummins and Mobil Delvac 1.

“It’s huge to have stability, with my team and my partners. It just gives you more confidence. Stewart-Haas Racing is where I want to be for a long time. It’s the place I’ve known longer than anywhere else in my NASCAR career,” said Briscoe.

“I remember getting signed by Ford in 2017 and I told people, ‘You know, if I could pick one place to be, it would be Stewart-Haas Racing. And if I could drive one car, it would be the 14 car. That would be the ultimate dream.’ And now, here I am.

“SHR has such a great group of people, from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series, and they’ve all just guided me in the right direction. From drivers to crew chiefs to crew members, they’ve always had my back, and that’s been a huge help – just having people believe in you.”

Briscoe is a third-generation racer whose career began on dirt tracks in and around his home state of Indiana. Since he was 13, Briscoe has followed in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps, racing sprint cars on the rough-and-tumble bullrings of the Midwest. In 2014, Briscoe moved to North Carolina to pursue a career in stock car racing. He volunteered in race shops before landing the chance to pilot an ARCA Racing Series entry for Briggs Cunningham III for two races in 2015. Briscoe parlayed that opportunity into a full-time ride for 2016, winning six races and the championship before advancing to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2017 with Brad Keselowski Racing. After winning the Truck Series’ rookie-of-the-year award, a limited Xfinity Series schedule followed in 2018 with SHR and Roush-Fenway Racing. Briscoe earned his first career Xfinity Series win with SHR on Sept. 29, 2018 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval. He then competed full time in the Xfinity Series with SHR in 2019 and 2020, qualifying for the NASCAR Playoffs both seasons.

“Growing up in Indiana and racing sprint cars, the guy I always looked up to was Tony Stewart. To be able to drive for him is a dream come true. To know I’ll have my name above the door of that No. 14 Ford Mustang for a really long time means a lot, and I’m ready to write my own history in it,” Briscoe said.

“Tony and Gene have built something really special in Stewart-Haas Racing and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this organization.”

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Chad Johnston Returns to SHR as Crew Chief for Ryan Preece and No. 41 Cup Team; Jonathan Toney Promoted to Crew Chief for Cole Custer and No. 00 Xfinity Team

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Jan. 6, 2023) – While the 2023 crew chief lineup for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) remains mostly intact from last year, two familiar names join the crew chief ranks for the team’s 15th NASCAR season.

Chad Johnston, who served as crew chief for driver and team co-owner Tony Stewart in 2014-2015, has returned to SHR to be the crew chief for driver Ryan Preece and the No. 41 team in the NASCAR Cup Series. And with SHR’s expanded two-car effort in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Jonathan Toney has been promoted from engineer to crew chief for driver Cole Custer and the No. 00 team.

“In Chad Johnston and Jonathan Toney, we’ve got two guys who are hungry to win that also bring a lot of smarts and experience to each of their roles,” said Greg Zipadelli, chief competition officer, SHR. “Both are very familiar with our program and our people.

“It’s great to have Chad back with our race team. A lot of the people he worked with when he was here before are still here today, and he already has a rapport with Ryan Preece. Chad fits in seamlessly and has a tremendous work ethic.

“Jonathan has been a workhorse and his fingerprints are on a lot of the success this team has enjoyed. He’s been here since the very beginning and knows this place inside and out. Jonathan has definitely earned this opportunity and all of us are proud to see him take on this new role.”

Johnston is from Cayuga, Indiana, and graduated from Indiana State University in 2003 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Before his first stint at SHR, Johnston spent 2004-2005 in the NASCAR Truck Series. He moved to Cup in 2006 with Evernham Motorsports and stayed there until 2009 when he joined Michael Waltrip Racing. It was there in 2011 when Johnston was promoted from engineer to crew chief for driver Martin Truex Jr. The two were paired for 95 races, earning a win, two poles, 17 top-fives and 43 top-10s, numbers that earned Johnston his first stint at SHR. After working with Stewart for two seasons, Johnston was recruited by team owner Chip Ganassi to be the crew chief for driver Kyle Larson in 2016. In five seasons with Ganassi, Johnston and Larson won six races together. Johnston returned to the Truck Series in 2021 with David Gilliland Racing and it’s where he first worked with Preece, winning a Truck Series race with him at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in 2021.

Toney is one of the most tenured members of SHR. The Newton, North Carolina-native joined Haas CNC Racing in December 2003, five years before Stewart partnered with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas to form SHR on the underpinnings of Haas CNC Racing. Toney is a 1996 graduate of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and, like Johnston, holds a mechanical engineering degree. Toney was the lead engineer for Stewart and the No. 14 team from 2009 through 2012, helping secure Stewart his third NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2011 and the first for SHR. Toney remained an engineer at SHR, assisting the organization across its Cup and Xfinity Series programs, spending considerable time with Custer during his three previous years in the Xfinity Series from 2017 through 2019. The 2023 season marks Toney’s first as a crew chief.

The rest of SHR’s crew chief lineup remains unchanged across its Cup and Xfinity Series teams.

Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 4 team, will begin his 10th year atop the pit box for driver Kevin Harvick. The Harvick/Childers duo is the longest-tenured active driver-crew chief pairing in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, a partnership that has netted 37 points-paying wins and the 2014 championship.

John Klausmeier remains the crew chief for the No. 14 team and Chase Briscoe. Klausmeier helped Briscoe secure the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series rookie-of-the-year title and he delivered Briscoe a victory in just the driver’s 40th career start – March 13, 2022 at Phoenix Raceway. The 2023 season will mark Klausmeier’s sixth season as a crew chief, all of which have come with SHR (2018-2019 with driver Aric Almirola and 2020 with driver Clint Bowyer).

Drew Blickensderfer took over as crew chief for Almirola and the No. 10 team in 2022 and he returns in 2023. It will mark his third full season being paired with Almirola. Blickensderfer served as his crew chief while they were together at Richard Petty Motorsports for the last few races of 2016 and then all of 2017 before Almirola departed for SHR in 2018.

Richard Boswell has been the main steward of SHR’s Xfinity Series program since its inception in 2017 and he will continue in that capacity in 2023. He will again serve as crew chief for driver Riley Herbst and the No. 98 team. Boswell has been the crew chief for nine of SHR’s 21 Xfinity Series wins and has placed his driver in the NASCAR Playoffs for four straight seasons (2019-2020 with Briscoe and 2021-2022 with Herbst).

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Ryan Preece Parlays Reserve Driver Role Into NASCAR Cup Series Drive; New Englander Will Pilot No. 41 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2023

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Nov. 16, 2022) – Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has promoted Ryan Preece from his reserve driver role with the organization to the NASCAR Cup Series where the 32-year-old racer from Berlin, Connecticut, will drive the team’s No. 41 Ford Mustang beginning in 2023.

Preece has spent 2022 performing simulator work that has benefitted the entire team and its Cup Series driver lineup of Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer. In addition to his simulator work at the Ford Performance Center, Preece has run a mix of races across each of NASCAR’s top-three national touring series – Cup, Xfinity and Craftsman Truck – a schedule punctuated by a Truck Series win from the pole June 24 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, his second straight at the 1.333-mile oval near Music City.

“Ryan Preece has been a real asset to our race team this year as we’ve developed the NextGen car. The time and effort he’s put into our program, combined with his real-world racing experience, earned him this opportunity,” said Tony Stewart, co-owner of SHR with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas.

Custer, who has driven the No. 41 Ford Mustang since his rookie year in 2020 when he delivered a victory at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta in just his 20^th career Cup Series start, will remain with SHR. Custer will head back to the Xfinity Series, where he is a 10-time race winner, and be a teammate to Riley Herbst, who returns to SHR for a third straight season and his fourth fulltime year in the Xfinity Series.

“Cole Custer has been a part of SHR since 2017 and we’re glad to have him stay with us,” Stewart said. “Cole’s experience will be invaluable to Riley Herbst as he continues his development in the Xfinity Series.”

With wins in the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series, Preece aims to complete the trifecta in 2023 with a Cup Series win behind the wheel of the No. 41 Ford Mustang.

“This is the opportunity I’ve been working for,” Preece said. “Nothing was guaranteed at the start of this year, but I felt like if I put in the time, whether it was in a racecar or in a simulator, that SHR was the place for me. It’s a company built by racers, for racers, and it’s exactly where I want to be.

“I know this season just finished and most people are looking to take a break, but I can’t wait to get going.”

Preece made a name for himself on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – NASCAR’s oldest division and the only open-wheel series sanctioned by NASCAR. Preece won the Tour championship in 2013 and worked hard to leverage that title into additional opportunities in the Xfinity Series – NASCAR’s stepping-stone division to the elite Cup Series. After spending all of 2016 in a scrappy effort with an underfunded team that delivered a best finish of 10^th, Preece mortgaged his house to secure two races with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2017. In equipment finally befitting his talent, Preece finished second in his JGR debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon and then won in his very next start at Iowa Speedway in Newton. In his next five Xfinity Series starts, Preece never finished outside of the top-10, a run capped with a second victory in April 2018 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

“Ryan has bet on himself a couple of times in his career and it’s always paid off. Now we’re betting on him,” Stewart said.

“I’ve run some Modified Tour races and it’s a tough series with a lot of talent. Ryan’s Mod Tour championship speaks to his talent, and I think he proved that when he pushed all his chips into the middle of the table and bet on himself by getting those Xfinity Series races with Gibbs. When he finally got the right opportunity, he delivered in a big way.

“Now, Ryan’s got the right opportunity in Cup. We’re proud to have him and look forward to seeing what he can do in our racecars.”

Preece will make his debut in the No. 41 Ford Mustang during the non-points Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 5 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before kicking off his 36-race slate of points-paying events with the 65^th Daytona 500 on Feb. 19 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Both events will be broadcast live on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Smithfield To Serve as Anchor Partner of No. 10 Ford Mustang with Largest Allotment of Races as a Primary Partner Since Joining SHR in 2018

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2022) – Smithfield Foods and NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola will continue their longstanding partnership as both return to Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) with a multiyear agreement that begins in 2023.

The 2023 season will be the 12^th consecutive year that Smithfield has partnered with Almirola and its sixth together at SHR. The renewed pact comes with a significantly heightened presence as Smithfield will be the anchor partner of Almirola’s No. 10 Ford Mustang for the largest allotment of races since joining SHR in 2018.

The extension also marks a turnabout for Almirola. The 38-year-old from Tampa, Florida, came into 2022 ready to relish every moment, for his original plan was to retire at season’s end. In the course of this year, Almirola has discovered a new balance between his passion for racing and dedication to his family. His wife, Janice, and kids, Alex and Abby, join him on most race weekends, oftentimes enjoying once-in-a-lifetime experiences together as they travel the country. His rapport with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer has flourished, and the intense pressure he had put on himself was replaced with the joy of simply being present. Almirola was reinvigorated, and when Smithfield broached the subject of continuing together beyond 2022, Almirola accepted.

“I’ve learned a lot this year and perhaps the biggest learning was to never say never,” Almirola said. “I came into this year ready to soak everything up, and I have. I already knew I had the coolest job in the world, but being with my family and being there for Janice and Alex and Abby was really important. My desire to compete and win never wavered, but I didn’t want it to come at the expense of family. We found a way to accommodate both and I’ve never been happier.

“Smithfield is a big part of that. They’ve been a part of my life for 11 years and, really, my entire NASCAR Cup Series career. They’re family to me. And, of course, it’s always nice to be wanted. Smithfield wanted me to continue representing them. Stewart-Haas Racing wanted me to continue driving their racecars. Everything just aligned and it’s something we all embraced.

“The original decision to step away from fulltime racing at the end of the season was a family one, and so is this decision. Janice, Alex and Abby are just as excited as I am to continue racing the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang.”

The Smithfield/Almirola pairing is one of the most tenured in NASCAR. Almirola teamed up with Smithfield in 2012 while at Richard Petty Motorsports for his first full year in the NASCAR Cup Series. Almirola and Smithfield moved to SHR in 2018 where the two immediately found success, making the NASCAR Playoffs, winning in October at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and finishing a career-high fifth in points. Almirola went on to score a career-best 18 top-10 finishes in 2020 before earning another victory in 2021 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon to put him into the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

“Aric has been a part of the Smithfield family for more than a decade and we’re very happy to have him back in the No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang,” said Shane Smith, president and CEO, Smithfield Foods. “Just as Aric discovered new ways to enjoy this sport, Smithfield did too. I was at this year’s Daytona 500 with him and it was electric. NASCAR is exactly where we need to be. It’s where our customers are, and no one reaches them better than Aric Almirola. He’s an incredibly talented racer and devoted family man who embodies Smithfield’s values. From day one, Aric has embraced our commitment to do good for our customers, employees and communities. This is a reinvestment in Aric, in Stewart-Haas Racing and in NASCAR.”

Tony Stewart, co-owner of SHR with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas, was a driving force behind Almirola joining SHR in 2018. Stewart first met Almirola in 2004 when they were teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart was already a NASCAR Cup Series champion with the first of his three titles in hand (2002, 2005 and 2011) while Almirola was just beginning his NASCAR career after being selected as one of the first two drivers for Gibbs’ diversity program.

“All of us at SHR are very happy to have Aric back in our Smithfield Ford Mustang,” Stewart said. “I’ve always admired Aric because he’s always working to better himself, to find a better way. This year is proof of that.

“We’re in a tough sport, in terms of the competition and in terms of the commitment it takes to compete at this level. Even with all that, Aric has found a way to compete and enjoy life. That sounds simple, but achieving it is hard, yet Aric makes it look simple. It’s one of his many attributes, and it’s one of the many reasons why he’s such a good fit for Smithfield and for us. I’m proud of him and proud to extend our partnership with Smithfield.”

About Smithfield Foods, Inc.:
Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc., is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.®” and serve as one of the world’s leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan’s Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.SmithfieldFoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 -SHR-

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (May 16, 2022) – When Chase Briscoe won his first NASCAR Cup Series race earlier this year at Phoenix Raceway in just his 40th career start, he put his hometown of Mitchell, Indiana on the map. But for thousands of families who have enjoyed a magical Disney vacation experience, they were already well aware of Mitchell, Indiana.

The town of nearly 4,000 that is located approximately 85 miles south of Indianapolis is home to Magical Vacation Planner (MVP), an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. What was founded as a storefront travel agency in 2006 is today a powerhouse company that provides one of the best vacation planning services in the industry. To further promote its services, MVP has aligned with its hometown hero by sponsoring Briscoe and his No. 14 Ford Mustang from Stewart-Haas Racing for five NASCAR Cup Series races beginning this weekend with the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

“All of us here at Magical Vacation Planner have watched Chase grow up and achieve his dream of racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s incredibly aspiring and we’re very proud to be a part of it,” said Jamie Ane Eubanks, Founder, MVP.

“Just as Chase worked hard to get where he is today, we’ve worked hard to build MVP into a nationally recognized and premier vacation planner specializing in Disney vacations and experiences. No matter the Disney experience you want or where in the world you wish to visit, MVP can handle all the details, ensuring you get the best possible experience. Chase Briscoe wins in NASCAR. MVP wins in all things Disney.”

After the All-Star Race at Texas, Briscoe will drive the No. 14 Magical Vacation Planner Ford Mustang in four playoff races – Sept. 11 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas Speedway, Sept. 17 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Oct. 2 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and Oct. 23 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. MVP will serve as an associate partner at all other NASCAR Cup Series races.

Briscoe’s win at Phoenix earned him entry into the All-Star Race, as well as a coveted berth in the 16-driver NASCAR Playoffs.

“I’m a proud Hoosier and proud to be from Mitchell, Indiana, and to be able to represent a hometown company in Magical Vacation Planner is actually pretty magical,” Briscoe said. “My family used MVP to go to Disney long before I ever made it to NASCAR, but it’s been a while since then because I’ve always been racing. But now I’m a dad and Disney is definitely on my to-do list, and just like I’ve got a crew chief to help me get the most out of a race, I’ve got a crew chief in MVP for when Marissa and I plan our family’s Disney vacation.”

MVP operates through three branches: MVP Parks, MVP Cruising and MVP Getaways. The company provides its exclusive and personalized, stress-free planning service at no additional expense to its clients, making the extensive array of Disney options and add-ons easy to understand and navigate.

MVP will help plan their clients’ itineraries, taking into consideration the travel party’s every need and request, aiming to maximize their time and get the most out of every experience, all while creating memories that will last a lifetime. MVP’s travel planners will not only provide their clients a first-class vacation planning service, they will also assist them during the vacation, helping them make decisions on the go thanks to their availability, high level of knowledge, and overall expertise.

“As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, MVP works together with Disney to bring their clients the most magical experience at no additional cost over the price of the vacation package,” Eubanks said. “We are motivated by repeat and referral business. Nobody knows Disney better than MVP, and we make sure our clients are treated like MVPs.”

Eubanks founded MVP with her husband, JJ Eubanks, a former professional basketball player. While Jamie Ane Eubanks is set to guide Briscoe’s future Disney vacations, JJ Eubanks has already been a guide to Briscoe – on the basketball court. JJ led a basketball camp in Mitchell that Briscoe participated in before racing became his focus.

“JJ was a great coach and his camp was a lot of fun, but it’s probably a good thing I focused on racing,” Briscoe said. “It’s great to be back with the Eubanks’ and representing their company. They’ve worked really hard to make Magical Vacation Planner into the company it is today, and all of us at Stewart-Haas Racing are going to work hard for them.”

About Magical Vacation Planner:
Magical Vacation Planner (MVP) was founded as a storefront travel agency in 2006. Today, MVP is a powerhouse company that provides one of the best vacation planning services in the industry through its team of independent contractors. An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, MVP operates through three branches: MVP Parks, MVP Cruising and MVP Getaways. MVP thrives to provide an exclusive and magical, stress-free vacation planning service at no additional expense to its clients over the price of the vacation package. The company aspires to become a household name in the world of travel through perseverance, innovation and integrity, to continue to impact people’s lives for years to come. For more information on this partnership, please visit us online at MagicalVacationPlanner.com/ChaseBriscoe14 and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (May 10, 2022) – Renegade™, a revolutionary insurance agency platform that empowers top agents and agency owners to break free from old insurance and establish their own independent practices, has partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing, the championship-winning NASCAR team.

Renegade will make its debut on the No. 10 Ford Mustang of NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola beginning with this weekend’s event at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City with Renegade emblazoned across the car’s roof, just above the rear windshield. Renegade’s first race as a primary sponsor of Almirola and the No. 10 team will be Sept. 3-4 during the Southern 500 race weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

“NASCAR is a fast-paced sport and Renegade embodies that expeditious need for change in the insurance industry for our agents, customer and carrier partners. We’ve partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing to help tell our story,” said Rashik Adhikari, founder and CEO, Renegade.

“Insurance agents continue to face challenges. On one hand, you have captive agents who are exclusive to one insurance company and, on the other hand, you have independent agencies who struggle with technology, customer service and alignment with their carrier partners. As a result, the status quo has insurance agents who can’t maximize their potential and customers who don’t get the choice, expertise and service they deserve from their agents. This status quo, however, needs to change – fast and reliably. Renegade facilitates this change with speed, efficiency and accuracy – the same winning mentality Stewart-Haas Racing brings to the track.”

Renegade empowers agents who want to challenge the status quo and win for the customers and the carrier partners. By combining cutting-edge technology and best-in-class expertise, Renegade agents grow their customer roster faster, service their customers better and, ultimately, retain them longer by providing the best insurance options and advice, all in one place. By working with more than 80 insurance carriers, Renegade delivers unbiased insurance solutions its customers can trust.

These tenets align well with motorsports and, specifically, Stewart-Haas Racing, where its drivers and their teams are always looking to challenge the past, go faster and perform better, with the unceasing goal of winning races and championships.

“This is my 11th fulltime season in the NASCAR Cup Series, but it never gets old bringing a new partner into the sport,” said Almirola, a three-time race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series. “Renegade is an ambitious company that is striving for the same thing we are – to be the best and deliver results. It’s an honor to have them on my racecar.”

About Renegade Insurance:
Renegade Insurance is a revolutionary property and casualty (P&C) agency platform that turns agents into super-agents. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and best-in-class expertise across the insurance value chain, Renegade empowers top agents to break free from the old ways of insurance and launch their own independent agency without the headaches. With a Renegade agent, customers have more choice, better service and expert advice when and where they need it. Renegade is now in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, and is currently accepting applications from top P&C agents. For more information, please visit us online at www.RenegadeInsurance.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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World’s Largest Equipment Rental Company an Official Partner of SHR

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (March 1, 2022) – United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) has joined Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) as an official partner, with the largest equipment rental company in the world serving as a primary sponsor of the NASCAR team’s reserve driver, Ryan Preece, for select races in 2022.

In addition to performing yearlong simulator work for SHR, Preece is running a mix of races across each of NASCAR’s top-three national touring series – Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck. United Rentals will make its debut with Preece this Friday in the Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where the 31-year-old from Berlin, Connecticut, will drive the No. 17 United Rentals Ford F-150 for David Gilliland Racing in the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200.

United Rentals will return as the primary sponsor of Preece and the No. 17 Ford F-150 at two more Truck Series races – March 19 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and May 6 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. United Rentals will also sponsor Preece in one Cup Series race and one Xfinity Series race in 2022, with details regarding those two races to be announced at a later date.

“Motorsports is all about getting the job done quickly and efficiently without sacrificing safety or performance. That’s what we do every day at United Rentals. We help companies big and small grow through collaboration and teamwork, and our partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing and Ryan Preece allows us to demonstrate the power of working united on the racetrack while simultaneously engaging with our customers and employees,” said Dale Asplund, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, United Rentals.

Preece made two Truck Series starts last year, winning in his series debut June 18 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. He is a two-time Xfinity Series victor, winning in July 2017 at Iowa Speedway in Newton and in April 2018 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Preece spent the last three seasons (2019-2021) competing fulltime in Cup.

“I’ve always been hands-on in preparing my racecars, and that has meant being hands on when it comes to getting the resources I need to go racing. I feel like I’ve done every job on the racecar and in the shop, so that means I know my way around a lot of the equipment United Rentals provides,” said Preece, a dedicated Ford Performance driver in each series in which he competes. “Scissor lifts, forklifts, generators, air compressors – I’ve rented them and run them. This partnership with United Rentals is as authentic as they come, and I’m proud to represent them.”

Preece is especially known for his exploits on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He won the series championship in 2013 and has amassed 25 victories, three of which came last year – July 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, Aug. 6 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, and Sept. 10 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

“Ryan joined Stewart-Haas Racing at the beginning of the year and his value to our organization is already being felt,” said Brett Frood, President, SHR. “He epitomizes the old-school racing mentality that is at the core of our organization’s DNA. The opportunity to race for a trophy at Las Vegas will only enhance the intangibles he has been providing to our teams. United Rentals will be proud to have such an incredible competitor and brand ambassador.”

About United Rentals:
United Rentals, Inc., is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,278 rental locations in North America, 11 in Europe, 28 in Australia and 18 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 20,100 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,300 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $15.72 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Additional information about United Rentals is available at www.UnitedRentals.com.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:
Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, one NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and more than 90 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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