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Chase Elliott’s career has been a star-studded one. His Most Popular Driver status and 19 Cup Series victories are major sponsor-pullers. Currently, Elliott wears NAPA Auto Parts colors on almost every race weekend. Yet until less than a year ago, another primary sponsor backed up the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – Hooters. But the restaurant chain backed out in July 2024.

Now, a disheartening update has hit fans of the popular fast-food brand. We may not know if Chase Elliott is still a fan of the chain, but another motorsports celebrity is. It is three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s wife Leah Pruett, who is an NHRA champion – and she is sad.

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Chase Elliott’s broken sponsor has a big impact

Hooters has a long history in the States. First started off in 1983 by six Florida businessmen, it had one objective. The founders wanted a place to eat Buffalo chicken wings in their own state and spread their desire to other netizens. The restaurant chain has been a huge hit among chicken lovers for over four decades. Incidentally, Tony Stewart’s wife is also among them. Leah Pruett gave birth to little Dominic James Stewart last year, and the Stewart household has been bubbling with joy since then. So when the depressing news of her favorite fast food brand hit, she took it to heart.

According to Bloomberg, Hooters of America and its creditors are contemplating a potential bankruptcy plan. This has made Leah Pruett among other Hooters fans very sad. Pruett uploaded a story of the news piece on Instagram, writing: “How will I get my 3-Mile Island wings now 😒” and then added a cute avatar of Eric from the show South Park screaming, “Noooo”.

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The signs were in place – Hooters sold $300 million in asset-backed bonds in 2021. The bonds, packaged as whole-business securitizations, are collateral. Last year in July, reports emerged of the brand closing dozens of locations nationwide. The price of their dollar wings was a buck-50 more than their rivals like Houligan’s Wally Wings or Frankenstein wings at Merk’s in New Smyrna Beach.

Hooters sponsored Chase Elliott since 2017, watching him fetch all his Cup Series victories and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship. For 2024, Hooters was originally slated to be the “primary car sponsor” for three races. Elliott wore its colors in Atlanta and Texas and even won the latter race. However, Hooters mysteriously backed out for the race at Richmond. Now, those ominous signs have reached a climax – as Chase Elliott’s sponsor has entered a dark phase.

Yet Hooters’ memories with NASCAR will stay evergreen. That particularly includes a 1992 victory.

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With Hooters' future in jeopardy, will NASCAR lose a piece of its iconic history?

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When Hooters found speed with a legend

Long before Chase Elliott partnered up with Hooters, the brand had an iconic experience in NASCAR. For the fourth race of the 1991 Cup Series season, driver Mark Stahl had a deal with Hooters. However, he was among the seven slowest drivers at Atlanta Motor Speedway, as a result of which Hooters left his pursuits. Then the fast-food chain inked a deal with Alan Kulwicki, who delivered immediately. He won the pole for Atlanta and finished eighth. By August of the same year, Kulwicki brought Hooters to Victory Lane in Bristol. Then appeared a three-year sponsorship deal wherein Kulwicki conjured magic in his iconic ‘Underbird’ car.

By the end of 1992, Alan Kulwicki reached the heights of fame with the Hoot Owl logo on his car bumper. He outdueled Bill Elliott and Davey Allison in a spirited season-long championship race. The hard-fought battle came down to the last lap of the race  – which was coincidentally at Atlanta. Kulwicki won the Cup Series championship and forever etched his name in NASCAR’s history. Tragically, that iconic partnership with Hooters was cut short. Kulwicki passed away the following spring in a plane crash, and Hooters temporarily pulled out of racing after that.

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Evidently, NASCAR celebrities have had storied relationships with Hooters. As the brand faces a time of distress, Tony Stewart’s wife Leah Pruett shows her sympathy.

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With Hooters' future in jeopardy, will NASCAR lose a piece of its iconic history?

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