By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Richard Petty Motorsports and Bubba Wallace add another sponsor to their stable, DoorDash.
The meal delivery service, a last-mile logistics platform, will adorn the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1 LE in seven NASCAR Cup Series races in 2020 as part of a multi-year deal. DoorDash will make its NASCAR sponsorship debut in the Go Bowling 235 at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.
In addition to Daytona, DoorDash will adorn the No. 43 at Dover International Speedway (race one) before the playoffs. The Drydene 311 at Dover marks Wallace’s 100th NASCAR Cup Series start.
In 98 previous Cup Series starts, the Chevy Racing driver has two top-five and eight top-10 finishes. Wallace’s best finish, second, came in the 2018 Daytona 500.
In the playoffs, Wallace will represent DoorDash at Richmond Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway.
(Photo courtesy of Richard Petty Motorsports)
“The DoorDash symbol is synonymous with speed and technology and that’s what Richard Petty Motorsports intends to deliver with our No. 43 DoorDash Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE,” Wallace said.
Like Columbia Sportswear, Beats by Dre, and Cash App, Wallace is the first NASCAR ambassador for DoorDash. The company also joins the U.S. Air Force, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Transportation Impact, and World Wide Technology as sponsors of Richard Petty Motorsports and Wallace.
“This partnership enables us to engage with the racing community through one of the most exciting and forward-thinking athletes in the sport,” explained Tony Xu, DoorDash chief executive officer and co-founder. “We’re proud to support an ambassador like Bubba with on-track excellence, off-track commitments, and values that are so well aligned with ours.”
The partnership adds to the sponsorship portfolio for RPM. Prior to the season the team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time champion Richard Petty did not have a full season of sponsorship.
Victory Junction, a charity hole-in-the-wall camp for children led by Petty family filled the gaps. The Victory Junction Gang Camp was founded after the tragic loss of fourth-generation racer Adam Petty at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000.
“From a business perspective, the addition of DoorDash expands our resources, enabling us to build the best team and in turn grow our organization at a pace that will enhance our ability to win races,” admitted Brian Moffitt, chief executive officer at Richard Petty Motorsports. “DoorDash empowers businesses to grow, and this partnership is a direct result of that philosophy.”
Wallace has 12 starts on road courses across all three of NASCAR’s National Series. In the Cup Series, his best finish, 24th, came at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval last year.
The 26-year-old also has two top-five and four top-10 finishes on road courses. In the Xfinity Series, Wallace has a best finish of fifth and three top-10s.
In the Truck Series, the Mobile, AL native has one top-five. That top-five is a career-best road course finish for Wallace, fourth, at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
The third-year NASCAR Cup Series driver also has two road course starts in the ARCA Menards Series East. In both races, Wallace earned top-10 finishes.
The race at Watkins Glen International was realigned due to COVID-19 concerns. The Daytona International Speedway Road Course assumed the place of The Glen’s race.
Wallace, along with other Cup Series drivers will have no practice or qualifying at the new 3.61-mile course. He is scheduled to start the race from the 19th position on the grid. The starting grid is based on position in owner’s points, fastest lap and finishing position in the previous race at Michigan International Speedway.
Entering the Daytona road course, Wallace is 20th in the points standings, 137 behind the playoff cutoff held by fellow Chevy Racing driver William Byron. He is 516-points behind leader Kevin Harvick. Only four races remain in the regular season for the Cup Series.