DoorDash jumps into NASCAR, backing Bubba Wallace in multiyear deal

DoorDash jumps into NASCAR in a multiyear deal with Bubba Wallace.

DoorDash has jumped into NASCAR’s top level, the NASCAR Cup Series, in a multiyear deal with Bubba Wallace, who currently pilots the No. 43 Chevy Camaro for Richard Petty Motorsports.

This news was announced on Thursday morning, August 14, on The Today Show, as well as through a video posted on Wallace’s Twitter account.

“DoorDash has been great to work with so far,” Wallace said. “We’ve had really good conversations, and they stand up for the same values that I share about unity, openness and wanting to be a part of the communities that are in need in these dying times right now in our nation, to make it a better place for everybody. We’re excited to brainstorm and get some things rolling in those communities and just to make real change.”

The first full-time black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series since the 1960s, Bubba Wallace has shot to prominence this season due to the Black Lives Matter movement, which has resulted in increased sponsorship from DoorDash, CashApp and Columbia Sportswear, something his Richard Petty Motorsports team desperately needed.

The food delivery app will be onboard as a primary sponsor beginning this weekend in the Go Bowling 235 (3 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 16 on NBC), the first-ever stock car race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, which is typically used for sports cars.

DoorDash will also be a primary sponsor at one of the Dover International Speedway doubleheader races, as well as the playoff events at Richmond Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“This partnership enables us to engage with the racing community through one of the most exciting and forward-thinking athletes in the sport,” Tony Xu, DoorDash chief executive officer and co-founder, said in a press release. “We’re proud to support an ambassador like Bubba with on-track excellence and off-track commitments and values that are so well aligned with ours.”

The seven-race deal immediately makes them one of Wallace’s biggest supporters during the 36-race season, and adds to the recent surge of momentum, which also included adopting a new puppy.

While off-center stripes generally look terrible on a race car (outside of Herbie), in this case they work really well with the traditional RPM swoosh on the door panels, and the simplicity of the red and white scheme should stand out pleasantly against the at-times overly-busy designs of the competition. It’s somewhat similar to the Budweiser car that Kasey Kahne drove for the team in 2009-10.

Through 22 races so far this season, Bubba Wallace has an average finish of 19.5 and a best finish of sixth at Las Vegas, which is a tremendous year-to-year improvement for a single-car team, as it’s a full four positions better average finish.

He has four top 10s in 2020, including at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, and though it’s a distant chance, still could make his way into the playoffs on points with four regular season races left.  (A victory automatically would launch him into the playoff field.)

Wallace also has some backing from other major food-related companies in McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, both of which also sponsor other drivers as well.

He has a major presence on social media, and is good friends with other young drivers like Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.

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