For the first time in just over a decade, NASCAR will have a new entitlement sponsor for its second-tier series starting next year.
As first reported by the Sports Business Journal and also by The Athletic, NASCAR has agreed to a multi-year deal with O’Reilly Auto Parts to take over what is currently known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which serves as the second-tier series behind the Cup Series. An official announcement could be made early next week, per reports.
Xfinity has been the entitlement sponsor since 2015 but announced in February that would discontinue. While it will no longer have its name on the second-tier series, it will continue to remain a premier partner for the Cup Series.
The change comes as the Xfinity Series entered its first of a seven-year deal to broadcast events on the CW Network.
O’Reilly, which has long supported NASCAR through race sponsorships, will become the fourth company to serve as an entitlement sponsor for the league’s second-tier series, following in the footsteps of Anheuser-Busch (1982-2007), Nationwide (2008-14) and Xfinity.
–Field Level Media