Kenny Wallace tells the story of NASCAR blocking his Red Dog logo

In 1994-96, Kenny Wallace was sponsored by Miller’s Red Dog in the NASCAR Busch Series

We’re in a new era of NASCAR racing, the Monster Energy era.

Previously, when a new title sponsor comes into the series, they tend to limit what other sponsor can join the sport. For example, when Winston came into the sport you didn’t see a Marlboro race car. When Nextel/Sprint joined the sport, then Alltel, Verizon and Cingular Wireless disappeared from the race cars.

When Brad Keselowski was flipped by Carl Edwards, that car was sponsored by Verizon. It didn’t say Verizon on it anywhere. However, the red/white color scheme was enough to imply Verizon and collect a sponsorship check.

Monster Energy NASCAR Hauler
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 17: A detail of the ‘ Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ logo during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash on February 17, 2017 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Current sponsors are grandfathered in. Meaning 5 Hour Energy can remain a primary sponsor of Furniture Row Racing. However, 5 Hour is now locked into FRR. If they wanted to jump to a different team, they couldn’t.

If Red Bull wanted to re-join NASCAR at this point, they couldn’t. Unless, Monster Energy provided them with the green light of approval. Earlier in the year, Monster Energy actually sounded open to allowing any sponsor that could help a team.

In regards to NOS and 5 Hour Energy that basically said it was ok. Paraphrasing because I can’t find the quote they said something like, “They are a great sponsor for those team. They are welcome to stay.”

Related: Monster Energy plans to bring the party to NASCAR

Kenny Wallace has an interesting story to share on the topic.

Kenny Wallace
Red Dog Racing Story

“It is amazing the twists and turns that we do to try and stay in the game,” Kenny Wallace states via ‘The Late Shift’ on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

Kenny Wallace was sponsored by Red Dog Racing from 1994-1996. It was a new premium beer introduced by the Miller Brewing Company in 1994. However, at the same time, that’s the era of the NASCAR Busch Series.

Related: “I blew through my budget this year.” -Kenny Wallace

Kenny Wallace - Red Dog Racing
Kenny Wallace – Red Dog Racing

“I was literally winning races in the Xfinity Series at that time. The sponsor of the series was Anheuser Busch.”

Between 1994-96 Kenny Wallace won 5 NASCAR Busch Series races. In 1994, he ran the entire tour. That year he won 2 races and finished 4th in the series standings.

“So, all of the sudden they’re parking our tractor trailers at Louden New Hampshire. And we’re running good.”

Kenny Wallace - Red Dog Racing - Baddest Dog in the Park
Kenny Wallace – Red Dog Racing – Baddest Dog in the Pit

“The day before the race they brought a tractor trailer and parked it in front of our tractor trailer.

“Come to find out, NASCAR and Anheuser Busch realized that every time the camera’s showed us coming off of turn 4, our hauler was there. Our whole side of our tractor trailer said ‘Red Dog’ and it was the big logo.”

Red Dog Beer
Red Dog Beer Logo

“Listen, it’s just a story. Fight fire with fire. They were catching heat from Busch, ‘We can’t have that.’ So that next morning there was a damn hauler parked on the side of our hauler.”

“I’m sure some of these rules have been put in place because of the shit I went through. I had Crown Royal. I had the friggin’ sponsor. I went to NASCAR and they told me no. Devastating blow. Then they ended up with it when they needed it!”

“I’m a big boy. I grew up in St. Louis. You know, whatever.”

It’s no longer sold as a premium beer at a premium price. However, Red Dog beer can still be purchased, mostly at Walmart.

Links

Kenny Wallace | Miller Brewing | Anheuser Busch

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