Remember the 1992 Hooters 500? It had so many significant moments of NASCAR history. The race saw Alan Kulwicki, driving the #7 Hooters Ford Thunderbird for his own team, AK Racing, and becoming the second driver-owner after Lee Petty to win a Cup series! His car had “UNDERBIRD” written under the front grills as he believed that he was the ultimate underdog of the race. This Winston Cup Championship battle at Atlanta Motor Speedway was neck-and-neck, with Davey Allison entering the race as the points leader, Kulwicki starting at second, and Bill Elliott starting at third. But, this race had some more significant things.

It was the last race of King Richard Petty. Fans were seeing the #43 orange and “Petty Blue” Pontiac for the last time. But, every ending is a new beginning, with Rainbow Warrior of NASCAR, Jeff Gordon debuting. It was the departure of a great and the beginning of legacy for another. But, do you know who was the real winner of the race? It was Bill Elliott who finished first; however, as luck would have it, Alan Kulwicki won the cup series with laps led and bonus points earned. Bad luck! However, Elliott was the last racer to win the Hooters 500, as they would pack their bags and leave NASCAR as a sponsor. But they will return in 2017 to give Elliott the fair share of the 1992 win.

In 2016, Hooters came back with a one-off paint scheme for Greg Biffle. But, that deal was off after that very run in Darlington Raceway. And whom did they sponsor next? Well, Bill Elliott doesn’t race anymore. So, why not give his son a chance? The latest driver to be under the Hooters’ umbrella was Hendrick Motorsports driver and 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott. But, if they could run away from NASCAR once, can’t they run away again?

Will Hooters make it to NASCAR again?

Turns out they can. In 2024, Hooters sponsored only three races for Elliott before Mr.H UNO-reversed them out of his team in July due to “inability to meet its financial obligations.” And to be honest, the restaurant chain has not been doing good for itself lately. Earlier this year, the restaurant chain filed for bankruptcy.  Now, the organisation is trying its best to stay afloat, and there is some good news.

Hooters announced that it has agreed to a Restructuring Support Agreement. This came after deep discussions with prominent stakeholders, and the decision was near unanimous. Apparently, the solution was a sale in order to ensure Hooters’ continued operation, but under new ownership. And, once the sale is complete, the new owners will be able to operate at specific company-owned Hooters locations. In light of this, the Company hopes to get through this process smoothly and get back up and running.

Hooters CEO Sal Melilli said in a statement, “Our renowned Hooters restaurants are here to stay. Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in our efforts to reinforce Hooters’ financial foundation and continue delivering the guest-obsessed hospitality experience and delicious food our customers and communities have come to expect. I’ve seen firsthand the incredible value and opportunities our brand brings to life, and I look forward to continuing that momentum well into the future. I’m incredibly grateful to our valued customers, partners, and employees for their continued support.”

So what happens to customers who frequent Hooters, and how will this affect them? The good news is that the restaurants will still remain open and operate like normal. From a business standpoint, Hooters is trying to invest resources in its strongest assets. It also helps that its locations outside the U.S. are not impacted by the bankruptcy. But the words of the Hooters Inc. CEO shed some light on the hope of a comeback.

Hooters Inc. CEO Neil Kiefer said, “With over 30 years of hands-on experience across the Hooters ecosystem, we have a profound understanding of our customers and what it takes to not only meet but consistently exceed their expectations. As we look toward the future, we are committed to restoring the Hooters brand back to its roots and simplifying HOA’s operations by adopting a pure franchise model that will maximize the potential for sustainable, long-term growth. The foundation we’ve laid ensures the continued success of our brand – one that is driven by a relentless focus on delivering an exceptional experience each and every visit for our customers.” This makes us hopeful of a highly anticipated return of one of the biggest sponsors in NASCAR history! But, there is a simple question that needs answering…

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Will Chase Elliott be Hooters’ NASCAR pick?

To tell the truth, there’s no doubt that the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion could have been one of the best picks for the franchise. After all, Hooters will still exist as a restaurant chain and will likely continue sponsoring him, as ‘Chase Elliott’s Chicken Tenders’ is not off the menu yet. To be precise, any revenue earned at the end of the season could possibly contribute to Hooters’ income. But will Big Man Mr. Rick Hendrick approve of it? Nonetheless, there is a much bigger company already interested in Chase Elliott.

Amazon has already showcased its interest in Elliott. For now, 2027 might seem far, but we call it today… AMAZON is here to stay! As the media and outreach partner of NASCAR, the company’s foot is only going to get firmer in the sport as time passes. And, if Hooters is looking to be a primary sponsor, their fight is going to be massive. So, what would be he best plan of action if the franchise wants to come back to NASCAR?

For the moment, Hooters should concentrate on getting a sponsor who believes in their cause. Someone young, dynamic, and impressionable, waiting to make a mark on NASCAR. Someone young and potent like JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, or wait for Monster Energy to drop Ty Gibbs because of his racing antics and seize the opportunity! But these are all suggestions and inside jokes. What is going to happen remains uncertain to us as well.