CarShield Officially Sponsors a NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Race
CarShield is pleased to have secured the title sponsorship rights to the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The race was named the CarShield 200 and consisted of 160 laps on the 1.25-mile unique oval course in Madison, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.
With the excitement around sponsoring the race, it became evident that CarShield could do more for the event, and looked at a familiar race driver to sponsor. Ross Chastain had previously raced in a NASCAR event with the CarShield logo prominently on his car. In fact, his race suit was displayed behind glass in the lobby of the building. The decision was made to shatter the glass and put the suit back on Chastain in the Niece Motorsports’ No. 45 Silverado. “The opportunity to get on board with Ross and Niece Motorsports for the CarShield 200 was just too good to pass up,” Nick Hamilton, one of the owners of CarShield, said. “CarShield’s relationship with Ross dates back to 2016, and we’re thrilled to partner with Niece Motorsports this weekend. As the entitlement sponsor of the race, it makes sense to expand the program to include a high-profile on-track element. Ross is a proven winner and we’re happy to back him as he looks to pick up another win this weekend and work his way inside the top 20 in points.”
Chastain and Team Overcome Setbacks to Score a Win
The decision to seize the opportunity was a smart one, but it didn’t come with guaranteed victory. After Ross Chastain’s win in Iowa on June 16th, his victory was stripped by NASCAR when his truck failed a post-race inspection. Though he and his team appealed, the ruling remained in effect.
With that decision hanging over the team, race day began with another uncertainty. Would the race even occur as scheduled? Morning and early afternoon rains threatened to wash out the event, forcing NASCAR to make the decision to forego the qualifying time trials. Yet, as the afternoon schedule carried on, the rains not only stopped, but the sun began to shine upon the track. There would be a race after all.
Ross Chastain was eager to start. “I’m confident that we can win,” Ross stated before the race. “We’re looking to run up front…and put what happened at Iowa Speedway behind us.”
Chastain was able to do just that. He began the race in seventh place and went on to lead 21 laps before capturing the checkered flag and victory. One of the key factors in the win was the decision to only take fuel, and not fresh tires during his last pit stop of the race.
“I didn’t want to take tires and then it was up to me to freakin’ hold ‘em off,” Chastain explained. The risky decision paid off and Ross was able to bring home his second official win of the season, and CarShield’s first victory as a sponsor.
CarShield in the NASCAR Victory Lane
“I’m so grateful to CarShield for coming onboard this week; it feels great to bring them to victory lane,” Chastain proclaimed.
The excitement was felt by CarShield, as well. Beth Cook, who is the Controller at CarShield, represented the company all day at the CarShield 200.
“It was just incredible to be a part of the whole day. Being on hand to engage in the pre-race festivities and then to be able to be in victory lane and watch Ross, in a CarShield racing suit, lift the CarShield 200 trophy is just unreal. It was a great day, and I’m glad all the pieces came together for this victory,” said Cook.
