Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that NOS Energy Drink would return as primary sponsor of the team’s No. 18 Toyota Camry and driver Kyle Busch in 10 NASCAR XFINITY Series races in 2017. Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Busch still holds the all-time race winning driver’s title, in the history of the XFINITY Series, with 86 wins, 10 of them accomplished with the energy drink partner in 17 races run together in 2016.
Busch will drive his first 2017 NOS Energy Drink program race at Atlanta (G.A.) Motor Speedway on March 4th and in subsequent races depicting the original NOS Energy Drink flavor at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on March 25th, Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on June 17th, New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on July 15th and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on August 18th.
NASCAR fans will also see a new NOS Rowdy paint scheme represented with Busch in five additional XFINITY Series races this year at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on March 11th, Kentucky Speedway in Sparta on July 7th, Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway on July 22nd, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on August 5th and Richmond (Va.) International Raceway on September 8th.
“We continue to align with fearless and committed athletes, those who represent our company and who ‘live like a champion’ with support for brands like NOS Energy Drink,” said Monster Energy Vice President of Sports Marketing, Mitch Covington. He further stated, “Kyle (Busch) wins for NOS Energy Drink and we have every reason to believe that growing brand will continue to win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series again this year.”
Busch and the NOS Energy Drink brand have a longstanding partnership that afforded them much success together. Between 2011 and 2008 (Busch’s first season with Joe Gibbs Racing) the original orange and blue NOS Energy Drink colors were represented across 25 races in the XFINITY Series when Busch earned seven victories and three pole-position wins to further their brand exposure. In 2008 Busch represented the NOS Energy Drink colors with one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry, in which he earned a second-place result. 2016 was the most successful single-season run for NOS Energy Drink, reunited with Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing, when the 31-year old achieved 10 wins, 14 top-five results, nine pole-qualifying positions and 2,052 laps led, the most of any other series driver.
“NOS Energy Drink is a brand that supported me early in my career and we’ve had a lot of success together. We’re ready to continue our winning performances and to show NASCAR fans how to ‘Live NOS’ with this high performance energy drink and the great flavors they offer,” Busch commented, ready for XFINITY season start.
In 328 starts over 14 seasons, Busch has proven himself to be the winningest competitor in the history of NASCAR’s XFINITY Series. In addition to 86 career wins, the Las Vegas native has recorded 200 top-five finishes, 57 pole-qualifying wins and 17,818 laps led. In 2010 Busch made series history with a record 13-win race season. Past XFINITY Series Championships for Kyle include a Driver’s Championship in 2009 and Owner’s Championships in 2010 and 2008 –- all with Busch’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series team owner Joe Gibbs Racing.
After achieving three wins and the XFINITY Series Driver’s Championship in 2016 with Daniel Suarez, crew chief Scott Graves will move to the No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry with Kyle Busch in 2017. Joe Gibbs Racing’s goal will be to again capture an Owner’s Championship in the XFINITY Series and other drivers will be announced to join Busch in the No. 18 team’s effort. Graves remarks, “Owners points continue to be important to our XFINITY Series programs so it’s key for us to keep striving for that team goal. I’m looking forward to having NOS Energy Drink return with Joe Gibbs Racing this year and I’m looking forward to my first victory lane with them and with Kyle (Busch).”
Joe Gibbs Racing and NOS Energy Drink are two brands at the top of the field in their respective industries. With this partnership, the two continue to position themselves for great success together in 2017.
JGR PR
