When NASCAR Gets Quirky
Some NASCAR race names are pure genius, while others sound like they were dreamed up during a snack break gone wild. Do you ever think that some of these random sponsors and titles feel like inside jokes? Well, you're not the only one because these 20 NASCAR race names aren’t just absurd; they are downright hilarious! Let's dive in.
SpongeBob SquarePants 400 hopes to attract younger fans to NASCAR by Kansas City Star
1. Buschy McBusch Race 400
In 2021, Busch Beer let fans vote on a race name, and naturally, the internet did what it does best—it made it ridiculous. Buschy McBusch Race 400 sounds like a meme, but NASCAR rolled with it. The name was peak absurdity, but hey, at least it wasn’t Racey McRaceface.
roger blake from staffordshire, england uk on Wikimedia
2. Bojangles’ Southern 500
Nothing pairs better with legendary stock car racing than fried chicken. Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway was a true Southern experience—crunchy, spicy, and filled with tradition. Whether fans came for the racing or the biscuits, Bojangles made sure nobody left hungry.
Zach Catanzareti Photo on Wikimedia
3. The Aaron’s 499
The Aaron’s 499 is a name that just doesn’t quite add up. A race with a “499” distance and sponsored by a rent-to-own furniture company? Only in NASCAR. The bizarre combination of a race name and sponsor made this event an unforgettable and uniquely odd experience.
Curtis Palmer from Vestavia Hills (Birmingham), Alabama, USA on Wikimedia
4. GoBowling.com 400
Bowling and NASCAR don’t have much in common, but that didn’t stop GoBowling.com from sponsoring a Pocono Raceway event. Fans got exclusive bowling deals, drivers got exposure, and the sport of bowling got 400 miles of unexpected attention. It's not a bad strike for brand visibility if you think about it.
Anthony L. Taylor on Wikimedia
5. Subway Jalapeño 250
Fast cars and spicy sandwiches. Sounds like perfect marketing, doesn’t it? Subway sponsored this Daytona Xfinity Series race to promote its jalapeño-packed menu items. So, the theme of high speeds and fiery food left one burning question: Did any driver regret their lunch choice by Lap 100?
6. Kroger 200
Kroger’s sponsorship of the 200-lap showdown at Martinsville wasn’t random. NASCAR fans are known for their loyalty, and having a grocery store as a race sponsor made sense for both branding and practicality. It was a reminder that after the checkered flag, there was still shopping to do.
Neuwieser from Germany on Wikimedia
7. Banquet Frozen Foods 300
Frozen meals and high-speed racing? Banquet used this Sonoma sponsorship to remind us that a microwaved Salisbury steak was the ultimate race-day companion. Nothing quite like watching cars fly past at 180 mph while waiting for a dinner that’s still cold in the middle but has molten lava on the edges.
PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay
8. Bud At The Glen
Few names scream NASCAR history like Budweiser. The beer giant took over the Watkins Glen event, making it a must-watch for fans who loved road course drama. It was a legendary era of cold drinks and close racing—because what’s more American than Budweiser, horsepower, and left turns?
PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay
9. Hellmann’s 500
Mayonnaise isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind at Talladega Superspeedway. But in 2016, Hellmann backed the 500-mile race, forever linking it to high-speed chaos. Did fans leave craving a sandwich, or did they spend the race questioning why Mayo needed a NASCAR sponsorship?
Zach Catanzareti Photo on Wikimedia
10. Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
When a bunch of Dodge dealerships join forces to sponsor a race, you get this title. Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway sounded more like a weekend sales event than a high-stakes competition. Imagine winning and getting handed a $500 rebate instead of a trophy. That was corporate sponsorship at its finest.
PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay
11. Zippo 200
A lighter company sponsoring a NASCAR race—talk about hot branding. Watkins Glen’s Zippo 200 wasn’t just about fast cars. It was about making sure you associated open flames with high-speed competition. Luckily, the only sparks flying were from metal scraping the pavement, not from a rogue Zippo in the stands.
12. Food City 500
Bristol’s short-track chaos was brought to you by Food City, a grocery store chain that apparently wanted race fans to think about milk and eggs while watching cars crash into each other. If you ever wondered whether brand placement in NASCAR could be that random, here’s your answer.
13. Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400
This race is named after a snack you eat while watching a race. That’s some next-level synergy. The 1998 event at Rockingham Speedway was an elite marketing moment. Pop Secret knew fans would be glued to the action, so why not sell them some buttery goodness while at it?
Senior Airman Sergio Avalos on Wikimedia
14. SpongeBob SquarePants 400
Kansas Speedway turned into a SpongeBob wonderland in 2015, featuring themed paint schemes and track decorations. Drivers zoomed around the track with cartoon sea creatures on their cars. If only they had installed a pineapple under the grandstands to complete the experience.
SpongeBob SquarePants 400 hopes to attract younger fans to NASCAR by Kansas City Star
15. Tums Fast Relief 500
Short-track racing at Martinsville is stressful enough without heartburn kicking in. Luckily, Tums had the perfect solution: sponsoring a 500-lap showdown. Fans got non-stop bump-and-run action while being reminded to pop an antacid before the green flag. Few races are as fittingly named as this one.
Jarrett Campbell from Cary, NC, USA on Wikimedia
16. Coca-Cola 600
The most grueling race on NASCAR’s calendar, the Coca-Cola 600, is an endurance test for both drivers and fans. Four hundred laps, 600 miles, and countless soda commercials ensure you never forget which beverage to grab when you need to stay awake for the whole thing.
Spc. Dominick Smith on Wikimedia
17. Tropicana 400
A high-speed race inspired by breakfast sounds unusual, but that’s exactly what happened at Chicagoland Speedway. The Tropicana 400 brought NASCAR and orange juice together, creating a sponsorship as refreshing as a morning glass of OJ. But a giant bottle of juice would have made a perfect trophy.
18. Party In The Poconos 400
This name sounds like a secret invitation to an after-party rather than a race title. The 2013 Party in the Poconos 400 was indeed giving off a music festival vibe, and that might have been the goal. Fans got a lively race weekend with this one.
Zach Catanzareti Photo on Wikimedia
19. Toyota/Save Mart 350
Toyota and Save Mart teamed up to sponsor this Sonoma Raceway event, blending auto industry power with grocery store convenience. It was a practical, straightforward partnership and a little less ridiculous than some on this list. However, it’s still a reminder that in NASCAR, even a supermarket chain can get its name on a trophy.
20. Cheez-It 355 At The Glen
Watkins Glen once hosted a race named after the ultimate snack, the Cheez-It 355. Fans embraced the theme, but despite the branding takeover, free Cheez-Its never made an appearance at the gate. A small detail, but one that could have made a great race even better.
