Ross Chastain’s Boss Discloses How They Stole $110 Billion NASCAR Sponsor Under Tony Stewart’s Watch

In NASCAR, where the symphony of revving engines is supplanted by the intriguing rumors of major financial exchanges, having a game-changing sponsor is of paramount importance. For racing teams, big-ticket sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, a titan of the global brewing industry with an impressive market capitalization of nearly $110 billion, have always been highly sought after. 

However, the winds of change recently started blowing when Trackhouse Racing dropped a bombshell that Anheuser-Busch would sponsor the #1 Chevy Camaro from 2024 onwards. Adding spice to this plot, his team principal, Justin Marks, recently revealed the strategy they employed to poach this high-value sponsor right under Tony Stewart‘s hawk-eyed vigilance.

This development came hot on the heels of Kevin Harvick’s announcement of his retirement post the 2023 season, leaving his long-term sponsor Anheuser-Busch to switch allegiance to Stewart’s competitive rival.

How did Justin Marks entice such a big sponsor to invest in his driver?

Ever since Kevin Harvick decided to hang up his fire suit at the end of the 2023 season, Anheuser-Busch has been on the prowl for a new wheelman. Ross Chastain, one of the 2022 Cup season’s superstars, emerged as a viable choice. However, the burning question was how this nascent racing firm managed to land such a big fish when seasoned racing teams couldn’t.

Trackhouse Racing’s co-owner, Justin Marks, lifted the curtain on this intriguing development. According to Forbes, Marks reflected,

“When you lay out expectations to start a team—this is a very expensive business to run—and so much of this business relies on corporate sponsorship, the expectations were to go out and tell something unique and be a differentiator from the other teams and add value proposition for our corporate partners. That has resonated with these brands and they’ve made investments in us.”

While this holds true, it cannot be overlooked that Trackhouse Racing has been pulling out all the stops to carve its own niche and project a distinctive image. From a robust social media presence and marketing drives to sleek race car designs and digital advertising on the team’s transport vehicles—these are just a few ways the outfit is coloring outside the lines. 

The team’s haulers are unique masterpieces themselves, adorned with blue LED lights, black paint, and blue chrome, setting them apart from the crowd. The fact that the pop icon Pitbull is one of the co-owners of the team doesn’t hurt either.   

Watch This Story: Trackhouse Boss Justin Marks Could Lose SVG to Bigger NASCAR Sharks

Why wouldn’t Anheuser-Busch sponsor the trailblazer that is Ross Chastain?

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Chastain, who has been entrusted by Anheuser-Busch to carry their brand image, cruised to his personal best finish—second in the points table—in 2022. This was after he entered Championship 4 because of his incredible Hail Melon, wall-riding move in Martinsville. 

Chastain narrowly missed the title race, playing second fiddle to Joey Logano in the previous season. With two wins under his belt and 21 top-10 finishes, Chastain and Trackhouse solidified their position as regular contenders, signaling a more level playing field in the garage.

Talking about the current season, he has already cemented his place in the playoffs, riding high on a victory lap on his home turf in Nashville. However, a quick glance at his track record suggests he had a more fruitful run in terms of wins and top-tier finishes the previous year. However, purely in terms of the eyeballs that he has attracted, he is perhaps the most un/popular driver this season, with several legends of the sport, including Dale Earnhardt Jr, claiming that Chastain is exactly what the sport needs.

As such, it is not very surprising that Anheuser-Busch chose to favor Chastain over Josh Berry, who will replace Harvick in the #4 Ford next year. For his part, Chastain undoubtedly has his sights set on lifting his first Cup championship before he dons the Busch Light colors.

Read More: After Breaking Promise Made to Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Boss Justin Marks Could Lose SVG to Bigger NASCAR Sharks