Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 7, 2016) –JR Motorsports (JRM) and Dale’s Pale Ale, the first craft beer to be featured in a can, have announced a multi-year extension that will see the brand sponsor JRM’s No. 88 Chevrolet in three NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races in 2016-17. The No. 88 Dale’s Pale Ale Chevrolet will make its season debut on Aug. 19 at Bristol Motor Speedway with Regan Smith returning to JRM to drive in the event.
A JRM partner since 2015, the remaining two races and driving duties for Dale’s Pale Ale in 2017 will be announced at a later date. Additionally, the brand will receive associate placement on the No. 1 Chevrolet with driver Elliott Sadler for the 2016 season.
“Our partnership with Dale’s Pale Ale has been fun and rewarding,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “For us, there is nothing more fulfilling than renewing partners. Dale’s Pale Ale has seen the value in sharing its product, and the craft beer revolution, with our many fans. We’re looking forward to building on that, both on and off the track.”
Dale’s Pale Ale, distinguished as the first craft beer in can form, is produced by the Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard, N.C., and Longmont, Colo., with another brewery opening soon in Austin, Texas. Along with its flagship brand Dale’s Pale Ale, the Oskar Blues Brewery offers an extensive line of craft and specialty beers, including Pinner IPA and Mama’s Little Yella Pils.
“We had a hell of a good time racing with JR Motorsports 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.”
The Bristol event marks Smith’s first turn in a JRM Chevrolet since the 2015 NXS season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Smith raced full-time for the team in NXS competition from 2013-15, earning six career victories and finishing second in the 2014 championship standings. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Tommy Baldwin Racing.
Smith becomes the eighth driver named to pilot JRM’s No. 88 Chevrolet in 2016, joining Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, Cole Custer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott, Kenny Habul and Kevin Harvick. Earlier this season, Elliott drove the No. 88 entry to victory in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
