Latest news with #SteveO'Donnell
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
O'Reilly Auto Parts will take over as title sponsor for NASCAR's second-tier series
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — O'Reilly Auto Parts will take over as the title sponsor for NASCAR's second-tier national series when the Xfinity Series is renamed next season. The multiyear partnership announced Monday is a sponsorship package that includes promotional opportunities and brand integrations with The CW Network, which is the exclusive broadcast partner for that series. The renaming will take effect on Jan. 1. 'Partnering with NASCAR and The CW at this level enables us to further deepen our connection to one of the most loyal fanbases in all of sports,' said Hugo Sanchez, O'Reilly Auto Parts vice president of advertising and marketing. 'This agreement builds on our long-term involvement in NASCAR and our dedication to the fans who love cars as much as we do.' O'Reilly Auto Parts becomes the fourth title sponsor in the series' history. It was launched as the Busch Series in 1982, had a seven-year run with Nationwide Insurance and Xfinity has been the title sponsor the last 11 years. 'Like the great sport of NASCAR, O'Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people,' NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell said. 'This new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR's stars and fans while celebrating the journey we've been on together for decades.' O'Reilly Auto Parts was founded in Springfield, Missouri, in 1957 as a single store and today is an automotive parts powerhouse with more than 6,400 locations across 48 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. For several years it was the title sponsor of NASCAR races at Daytona, Texas and Mid-Ohio. 'Our company is rooted in the same values that define NASCAR — teamwork, enthusiasm and dedication,' O'Reilly Auto Parts President Brent Kirby said. 'You'll see those in action when our customers walk through our doors. We know they need fast service, and Team O'Reilly will get them the parts they need quickly, with excellent customer service. We welcome all fans to stop by our stores and see how our team can help keep them running.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP auto racing:
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
NASCAR announces O'Reilly Auto Parts as successor to Xfinity Series sponsorship
O'Reilly Auto Parts announced today that it has signed the largest title sponsorship in NASCAR history, with plans to name NASCAR's second-tier stock-car racing series after the well-known parts retail chain for an extended period. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Starting on January 1, 2026, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which has borne the series name since 2015, will become the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. O'Reilly steps into the spotlight as entitlement sponsor This represents only the fourth entitlement sponsorship in the history of NASCAR's second-tier series. It was an 11-year run in the Xfinity era, following Nationwide Insurance and, prior to that, a primary sponsor with Anheuser-Busch. Enter O'Reilly Auto Parts, which has a history dating back to Springfield, Missouri in 1957. They will now take over the mantle while also bringing a network of more than 6,400 retail outlets in 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada, backed by approximately 92,800 employees and 31 distribution centers. NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell underscored the significance of the alignment, saying: 'Like the great sport of NASCAR, O'Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people... this new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR's stars and fans.' The CW Network, which serves as the series' exclusive broadcast partner, will also be featured in strategic integrations as part of the deal, with the network enjoying solid numbers so far, as viewership is up 17% year-over-year, and 19 of 23 races this season drawing one million or more total viewers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Also Read: Legacy of Xfinity and future of fan connections During its 11-year title sponsorship, Xfinity (Comcast) raised the profile of the series itself through innovative fan programs such as the Dash 4 Cash and through digital and social engagement enhancements that better connected and engaged audiences. Even while reducing its title sponsorship role, Comcast is still entrenched in NASCAR as a premier partner, is still supporting 23XI Racing, and will still engage fans in the experience through new programs such as the 'Xfinity Fastest Lap' award. NASCAR had been looking for annual rights and activation spending in the $15 million range. The O'Reilly deal, however, is part of a new "mid-term" partnership, but financials have not been disclosed at all by either party. Hugo Sanchez, O'Reilly's VP of Advertising & Marketing, said, 'Partnering with NASCAR and The CW at this level enables us to further deepen our connection to one of the most loyal fan bases in all of sports.'
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
NASCAR Xfinity Series to have new name in 2026
NASCAR has signed O'Reilly Auto Parts to be the entitlement sponsor of the Xfinity Series beginning next year, the sanctioning body announced Monday. The series will be known as the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series beginning in 2026. This season marks the end of Xfinity as the sponsor for NASCAR's No. 2 series. Xfinity has sponsored the series since 2015. Dustin Long, 'Like the great sport of NASCAR, O'Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people,' said NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell in a statement. 'This new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR's stars and fans while celebrating the journey we've been on together for decades.' O'Reilly Auto Parts was founded in Springfield, Missouri in 1957. The company has more than 6,400 locations across 48 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. 'Our company is rooted in the same values that define NASCAR—teamwork, enthusiasm, and dedication,' said O'Reilly Auto Parts President Brent Kirby in a statement. 'You'll see those in action when our customers walk through our doors. We know they need fast service, and Team O'Reilly will get them the parts they need quickly, with excellent customer service. We welcome all fans to stop by our stores and see how our team can help keep them running.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR president calls Rockingham turnout ‘unbelievable,' hints at its future
According to many stakeholders, Rockingham Speedway's return to the NASCAR schedule earlier this month was a towering success. It seems as if NASCAR's leadership agrees. Steve O'Donnell, the newly promoted president of NASCAR, said Monday that the Easter weekend set of races at The Rock — which included a sold-out Xfinity Series race — saw 'an unbelievable turnout' and was so successful that its potential return to the Cup Series is worth monitoring and exploring. Advertisement O'Donnell told The Observer that the sanctioning body would 'love to keep it as an Xfinity Series and Truck Series staple, and maybe bring in more Cup drivers to race that weekend' in the future. He added, 'You never know what the future holds beyond that.' NASCAR fans cheer the Xfinity Series field in the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 as they race across the start line during action at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, April 19, 2025. NASCAR leadership shared this during a meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors group at the New York Times offices on Monday. The sentiment is largely in lockstep with what the sanctioning body's messaging has been since it announced its return to the famed 1.017-mile track at Rockingham — a racetrack that, until this year, seemed as if it'd seen its final day in the NASCAR sun. For decades, the racetrack at Rockingham served as a rite of passage in the sport of racing. It was a fixture on NASCAR's top circuit — the Cup Series — from the mid-1960s to the early 2000s. Advertisement The Cup Series left in 2004, however, with decision-makers in the sport opting to attempt to capitalize on NASCAR's ascending popularity by building state-of-the-art tracks in larger markets outside of the Southeast. The Cup Series hasn't returned since. NASCAR fans enjoy the Xfinity Series race from a grassy area in Turn 3 during the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, April 19, 2025. NASCAR returned briefly in 2012 and 2013 with a standalone Truck Series race in each year. But the facility wasn't up to NASCAR's standard for a return in 2014, and at that point, the racing seemed forever lost. That is, until a perfect storm materialized years later, one that featured an owner in Dan Lovenheim purchasing the racetrack in August 2018 and then a windfall of money provided by a federal COVID-19 stimulus package. The state budgeted about $50 million of that stimulus money to go toward renovating North Carolina's three speedways: Charlotte, North Wilkesboro and Rockingham. Advertisement The Rock received about $9 million of that sum — and in the end, including Lovenheim's own money, about $15 million has been poured into the track's renovation, The Observer previously reported. NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jesse Love crosses the finish line to win the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, April 19, 2025. That all led to a triumphant weekend that featured a Truck Series race, an Xfinity Series race and an ARCA race. 'We did everything we needed to do,' said Bob Sargent, CEO of Track Enterprises, who spoke with The Observer after the race weekend at The Rock earlier this month. 'It's a process, but we are on the radar.' NASCAR fans welcomed action back to Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, April 19, 2025 with the running of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. Ben Kennedy, NASCAR's chief venue and racing innovations officer, told The Observer in March that the sanctioning body is in the process of building out the Cup schedule through 2031. Advertisement 'And I think the great part about it is we have great interest for new events in new markets,' he said. 'I would say now more than ever we have to be more thoughtful and strategic in any moves that we make, just because (when) we add a new event, it's gotta come from somewhere. ... 'I would say for Rockingham in particular, like all other tracks and promoters out there, it's on the radar for sure (for a Cup date). I think it's something you want to see how it does the first few years, and then if it's successful, it's something that we'll put in our consideration set.' Sports editor Lydia Craver contributed to this report.
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR President Breaks Silence on Cup Series Return to Rockingham
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Following the huge success of NASCAR's Easter weekend at Rockingham Speedway, NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell has teased a possible Cup Series return to the North Carolina track. The doubleheader saw both the Xfinity and Truck Series return to the iconic track, 'The Rock,' after several years, and this saw tremendous ticket sales and a fanfare response. With this, questions were of course being asked about a Cup Series return. O'Donnell, only recently promoted to the role of NASCAR president, is enthusiastic about the sport's return after "an unbelievable turnout." He however confirmed to The Charlotte Observer that he'd like to keep it to just Xfinity and Trucks for now while bringing in more Cup Series drivers, but "you never know what the future holds beyond that." These comments are carefully worded, hinting at a potential Cup Series return if the hype around the 0.94-mile track is sustained. It hasn't been since 2004 that the track has hosted the series. Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in... Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in Rockingham, North Carolina. MoreEaster weekend saw a sellout crowd of 25,000 fans on the Saturday and 16,000 on the Friday. Tyler Ankrum won the Truck Series race, but drama surrounding Jesse Love saw his car being disqualified following the Xfinity Series race, making Sammy Smith the eventual winner of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. The race saw 17 lead changes between eight drivers. Talking to the media following the race, Ankrum said the following to the media: "It's really, really cool. When we get to bring back these old tracks, it's really, really cool. You can tell the fans are really excited. Even on pit road, the fans are going crazy all the time, and they're talking so loudly you can hear 'em from pit road." "You kind of get the feeling of what I imagine as a kid what Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon felt like. They're here for us - they're not here for the Cup guys. It's really, really cool to see racing like this come back to North Carolina..." Kasey Kahne added: "I think a Cup event would be fantastic here. I used to enjoy watching it and being a part of it the one year I was. "It could make a great race."
