Oskar Blues extends NASCAR sponsorship deal

Beer and really fast cars — the ultimate combo.

It wasn’t even a week ago where we were joking about the connection between craft beer and NASCAR — our snobby assumption being there is no connection. Well, our monocles have cracked once again: Oskar Blues Brewery announced a multi-year extension with JR Motorsports (JRM). Dale’s Pale Ale will sponsor JRM’s No. 88 Chevrolet in three NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races in the 2016-2017 seasons.

The No. 88 Dale’s Pale Ale Chevrolet will make its first appearance on August 19 Bristol Motor Speedway with driver Regan Smith. The remaining two race dates will be announced at a later date. Dale’s Pale Ale will also be featured on the No. 1 Chevrolet with driver Elliot Sadler as he battles for the series championship each week for the 2016 season.

Oskar Blues’ sponsorship isn’t a new thing, but since we don’t watch NASCAR, we forgot. Dale’s Pale Ale became the first craft beer to achieve NASCAR sponsorship status in 2013 and primary sponsor status in 2015 with the start of its partnership with JRM.

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“We had a hell of a good time racing with JRM in 2015 and connecting with NASCAR fans over red, white and blue cans of Dale’s Pale Ale,” said Dale Katechis, Oskar Blues’ Soul Founder. “At Oskar Blues, we like to buck convention and do things our way. We see a similar hard-working, hands-on, American-made attitude in JR Motorsports and NASCAR fans and we’re proud to be a multi-year sponsor of the iconic No. 88 Chevrolet.”

“Craft breweries like Oskar Blues are continuing to gain popularity and that is why we could not be happier with our extended partnership with Dale’s Pale Ale,” said General Manager of JRM Kelley Earnhardt Miller. “The craft beer is the perfect match for our NASCAR fans and we can’t wait see their reaction to the car.”