How NASCAR star Ross Chastain landed iconic beer sponsorship

When it comes to NASCAR partnerships, there are not many brands that have a more storied history in the sport than Anheuser-Busch.

Whether it was sponsoring individual races, race series, or drivers through the likes of Busch Light and Budweiser, the brand's involvement in NASCAR dates back to the late 1970s.

Historically, Anheuser-Busch has also served as NASCAR's official beer sponsor through the above brands for much of its history, reclaiming that title with Busch Light in 2018 after Coors Light briefly snatched it away.

In recent years, Busch Light has also become an iconic primary sponsor for some drivers, with 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick having started to regularly run the iconic Busch Light paint schemes in 2015.

Ross Chastain chased Busch Light

With Harvick having retired from NASCAR in 2023, Ross Chastain was the driver to land the coveted Busch Light sponsorship and take over that mantle.

Since the start of the 2024 campaign, the Melon Man has enjoyed a great partnership with the brand, which is the primary sponsor for the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet for at least 18 of the 36 races across a Cup Series season currently.

But how did Chastain land the deal? It turns out, he and his team actively sought it out.

“We wanted Busch Light,” Chastain said when quizzed on the matter in a recent video on the NASCAR YouTube channel.

“We knew Kevin Harvick was retiring, and we wanted to make our case to them.

“I drank Busch Light before they sponsored me. I was going to drink it whether they sponsored me or not.

“So that made the first conversation really easy.”

What did Chastain say at the time?

That isn't just media talk from the Trackhouse Racing star, either.

When the deal was first announced back in 2023, he made it clear that Busch Light was his drink of choice.

“On the farm in Alva, Florida, Busch Light has always been the beer of choice for all of our celebrations, and now that they are right by my side as my sponsor, it’s a dream come true!” Chastain said in 2023.

“This sponsorship means so much to me as the brand not only supports NASCAR, but also places value and extends their support to communities that are close to my heart - the humble, hard-working people across the U.S. who enjoy cracking a cold one after an honest day’s work.”