Convenience store chain Speedway has agreed a multi-year deal with US motor-racing series IndyCar.
The contract with IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway parent firm Hulman & Company names Speedway as official fuel and convenience store of IndyCar, the IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the iconic Indianapolis 500 race, beginning in 2019.
Speedway replace long-time IndyCar partner Sunoco as the fuel partner of the series. Sunoco had ties with the series dating back to 1968, and served as the official fuel partner from 2015.
Headquartered in Enon, Ohio, Speedway is a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation and has locations in 35 states. The IndyCar Series will conduct 11 races in those states in 2019.
“Speedway has a large national footprint along with the desire to establish a partnership with the IndyCar Series and its many events reaching millions of consumers,” Mark Miles, chief executive of Hulman & Company, said.
“Speedway also has a broad reach within the region, ensuring a shared interest in leveraging the Indianapolis 500 as a central element of its retail promotion during the month of May. We believe this will be a beneficial relationship for Speedway, IndyCar and all of our race promoters.”
As the official fuel for IndyCar, Speedway will provide the fuel powering every car at every race in the IndyCar Series. The agreement also calls for Speedway signage to be placed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Speedway media assets within NBC Sports’ exclusive coverage of the IndyCar Series starting in 2019. Speedway fuel also will power Hulman & Company’s fleet of trucks and IMS equipment.
Tony Kenney, president of Speedway, said: “The Indianapolis 500 itself is one of the premier events in the world of motorsports, and Speedway has a strong brand presence in the IndyCar race markets, so our relationship will be very complementary. The IndyCar Series is a great way to showcase Speedway’s brand and quality fuel offerings, including the fuel that will power the race cars at each event.”