Island’s Coastal Lager and CRUSH brands will be the primary partner of the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for 16 races in 2023.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 18, 2022) – Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announces today that Island Brands USA, a lifestyle company that produces premium products across multiple segments in the adult beverage space, will partner with Kaz Grala and SHR throughout the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season. Island’s Coastal Lager and CRUSH brands will be primary partners on the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra throughout the season.
“There is a lot of symmetry between Sam Hunt Racing and Island Brands, which makes this announcement extra special for me,” said Sam Hunt. “They have effectively established themselves way into a market normally dominated by household names, as a non-craft beer in the modern age. They have done things the right way and stuck to what they believe in throughout their growth process. That process is what SHR was built on. I’m proud to welcome Island Brands USA to our family and looking forward to seeing Kaz deliver competitive finishes in their colors.”
In 2023, Sam Hunt Racing will field two full-time cars in its third full-time season in the NXS. In 2019, SHR competed in a single NXS event and nine races throughout the 2020 season. 2021 marked the team’s first full-time effort within NASCAR’s national level of competition. From one single race to two full-time cars in a span of five seasons, Sam Hunt Racing continues to grow at an incredibly fast pace, much like Island Brands USA. Island Brands USA recently ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country.
Island Coastal Lager will have primary placement on the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for 11 races starting at the NXS season premiere at Daytona International Speedway on February 18th. CRUSH, the company’s popular family of flavored malt beverages, will activate its five-race campaign starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18th.
“This partnership with Island Brands is a match made in heaven for me,” said Kaz Grala, full-time driver of the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra. “They’re a cool, young brand with clean beverages that fit my lifestyle perfectly. I know our fanbase is going to absolutely love each one of their products, and I can’t wait to show Island the power of NASCAR sponsorship. Together, we’re going to help everyone find their Island this year, and CRUSH the competition. See you in Daytona.”
Find your Island. Drink Responsibly.
Island Brands USA – Primary Schedule
February 18 – Daytona International Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
March 18 – Atlanta Motor Speedway – CRUSH
April 1 – Richmond Raceway – Island Coastal Lager
April 15 – Martinsville Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
April 22 – Talladega Superspeedway – CRUSH
April 29 – Dover Motor Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
June 24 – Nashville Superspeedway – Island Coastal Lager
July 8 – Atlanta Motor Speedway – CRUSH
July 15 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
August 19 – Watkins Glen International – Island Coastal Lager
August 25 – Daytona International Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
September 2 – Darlington Raceway – CRUSH
September 15 – Bristol Motor Speedway – CRUSH
October 7 – Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL – Island Coastal Lager
October 21 – Homestead Miami Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
October 28 – Martinsville Speedway – Island Coastal Lager
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ABOUT ISLAND BRANDS USA
Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., Island Brands USA is a lifestyle company that uses only the finest, all-natural ingredients to produce super-premium beer, flavored malt beverages, and, coming in 2023, craft spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. Its popular products are currently available in 12 Southeastern states, with expanding domestic and international distribution along with fleetwide service on Carnival Cruise Lines. Founded in 2016, the innovative company’s growing portfolio of clean, top-quality beverages cater to active, socially conscious consumers. Part of the company’s mission is to give back in meaningful ways, including pledging a portion of its annual sales to environmental charities through 1% for the Planet. Island Brands is proudly American-owned. For more information, visit islandbrandsusa.com.
ABOUT SAM HUNT RACING
Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) is a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team partnered with Toyota Racing Development that provides a value-packed platform for future stars. Owned and operated by 29-year-old Sam Hunt, SHR enters its third full-time season in the NXS and first season as a two-car team. In 2022, SHR hosted 10 drivers of various skill levels and captured two Top-5 and five Top-10 finishes. The team led its first laps the organization’s history and tied its highest qualifying effort.
ABOUT TOYOTA
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.
Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.