After choosing not to sponsor a race car for a number of years,
Zippo Manufacturing Co. is getting its name back on the track for
one race, and they have gotten onto the car of one of NASCAR’s
biggest names, and recently most controversial driver Kyle
Busch.
According to Zippo representative Peggy Errera, they were
contacted by D’Hondt Motorsports, one of Busch’s racing teams which
he will be representing at the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen on Aug.
9.
D’Hondt wanted Zippo to sponsor Busch’s car for the day, and
they quickly found terms they could agree on.
“I appreciate Zippo coming on board to sponsor me and D’Hondt
Motorsports in Watkins Glen,” Busch said in a release issued by
Zippo on Friday. “Zippo definitely has a history at ‘The Glen’ and
we will do our best to represent them well.”
Zippo has sponsored the Zippo 200, a Nationwide Series race, for
the past four years.
D’Hondt Motorsports owner Eddie D’Hondt says that they are very
excited to get the sponsorship from Zippo.
“They have been sponsoring that race so we knew they had an
interest,” said D’Hondt, speaking to The Era Friday. “We wanted to
get their sponsorship because they are sponsoring the race and it
just made sense to get Kyle into a car with their logo on it. They
are very excited as well. The first car design we presented to them
they loved.”
The car will be black and will feature the logo of Zippo’s
newest product, Zippo Blu, on the hood, in front of the spoiler,
and above both rear wheel-wells. Blue flames highlight the sides of
the car behind Busch’s Nationwide Series number, 92.
“This is a great opportunity for us to advertise our new butane
lighters, Zippo Blu,” said Errera. “This is the only race that he
will drive this car in.”
“We’ve been in this business a long time and we’ve designed
loads of cars, but I have to say I am proud of this one,” said
D’Hondt. “It looks pretty swift.”
D’Hondt offered an explanation of his company’s relationship
with Busch, who is a member of Joe Gibbs Racing team along side
fellow NASCAR All-Stars Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.
“The best way to explain it is that he is employed by Joe Gibbs
Racing full time, and he runs for us and another company, Braun
Racing, on a part-time status,” explained D’Hondt. “He races mostly
for Joe Gibbs, but occasionally JGR won’t send him to a race and
allows him to run for another team randomly. I’ve known Joe and
J.D. (Gibbs) for a lot of years and they really help to build our
company by letting Kyle run for us. Kyle isn’t the only one who
does this either. His team mate Tony Stewart does as well. It’s
very common in NASCAR.”
Busch is currently number one in the point standings in NASCAR’s
top series, the Sprint Cup. In the Nationwide Series, in which he
will drive the Zippo Blu car, he is in second place.
The big news about Busch recently is the controversy surrounding
him from Darlington Raceway, where with just three laps to go, he
bumped Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was just laps away from his first
win in two seasons. He has since earned status as NASCAR’s “bad
boy.”
“In NASCAR, if you’re a hard-nosed racer on the track, there is
going to be controversy,” commented D’Hondt. “Controversy brings
headlines, both good and bad, that go along with it. This is the
entertainment business and we are in competition for sponsorship
dollars and fan viewership. Right now a little bit of controversy
is good, it’s healthy.
“Kyle is the hottest driver in NASCAR right now and I can
guarantee you that our whole business knows that he is the guy to
beat right now. You don’t create that by being soft with your
competition.”
The Zippo 200 will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 9.
