By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
A simple Tweet snowballed into Alvin Kamara and his company, The Big Squeezy, sponsoring Ryan Vargas at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.
During the 63rd running of the Daytona 500, New Orleans Saints running back Kamara was in attendance. During that time, he discovered that he could own or even sponsor race teams.
I’ve also discovered that I could have my own racing team… Stay tuned @NASCAR 😂
— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) February 15, 2021
The next day, JD Motorsports with Gary Keller driver Vargas Tweeted that he didn’t have a primary sponsor for the Super Start Batteries 188 at Daytona’s Road Course. An eagle-eyed fan tagged Kamara in a reply to the 20-year-old. He and Vargas connected on the social media platform. That culminated in The Big Squeezy becoming the primary sponsor of the No. 6 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Hey guys!
I don’t normally make posts like this, but headed into this weekend we have no primary sponsor on the car for the Daytona Road Course.
We’re working hard to secure partners for this year, & if you or someone you know is interested, reach out!
Let’s make it happen!💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/2eYPNikAvZ
— Ryan Vargas (@RyanVargas_23) February 15, 2021
“Having the opportunity to work with Alvin Kamara and The Big Squeezy is such a huge honor,” Vargas explained. “As one of the best Running Backs in the game, I know Alvin puts 110% effort into everything he does and that can easily be said for myself and our #6 JD Motorsports Team. I’m excited to be a part of Alvin’s first step into the NASCAR Industry and I believe this is just the start a long, successful partnership!”
Vargas finished the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300 on Daytona’s Oval in 18th. That was after a trip through the infield grass to avoid a melee mid-race. However, Vargas never fumbled, avoiding the damaged car of his JD teammate Jeffrey Earnhardt. He also managed to maneuver his way out of the infield mud and back onto the racing surface without assistance.
The metric qualifying formula pits Vargas 12th on the Super Start Batteries 188 grid. He entered the Daytona International Speedway Road Course tied for 18th in the Xfinity standings.
The Super Start Batteries 188 will mark Vargas’ third road course race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. It is also his first trip to the 3.61-mile 14-turn Daytona Road Course. His best finish on road courses, 17th, came at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL last year.
Vargas also has one road course start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (now ARCA Menards Series East). At Watkins Glen in 2018, he started sixth and finished 18th.
“When this opportunity presented itself, I knew I couldn’t let it slip by!” exclaimed Kamara after inking the deal. “I did a bit of research on Ryan as an individual and JD Motorsports and was impressed with what I read. I’m excited to play a small role in what they already have going on.
“In the same breath, I’m just as excited for the opportunity that this gives The Big Squeezy. With us gearing up for franchising our new express concept in 2021, I think this gives us an avenue to express our passion for serving healthy fresh foods and juices throughout the country!”
Currently, The Big Squeezy has nine locations throughout Louisiana. The opportunity to sponsor Vargas introduces the brand, which aims to continue to expand, to the NASCAR fanbase. It also marks the continued growth of the sport as Kamara shifts from newfound fan to team sponsor.
The partnership with Kamara and The Big Squeezy marks just the most recent time social media has played a major role in Vargas’ career. Last year, after a fantasy No. 15 TikTok Chevrolet Camaro SS render for iRacing went viral, the social media company invested in the La Mirada, Calif. native. TikTok hopped onboard Vargas’ car for the final six Xfinity Series races of the season.
In 13 career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Vargas has one top-10 finish. That top-10 came at Texas Motor Speedway last season.
Feature Photo Credit: NKP / NKP Photo
I don’t know why NASCAR is letting This Alvin Ka
Mara be racing when he is so young I don’t think he even has his own drivers license yet.I think if something happened to him in a race NASCAR would get a worse name for letting him drive in there series at such a young age.