Jeffrey Earnhardt, driver of the #32 BeerFrost.com/CorvetteParts.net Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 11, 2015 Photo – Matt Hazlett/Getty Images
Racing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Go Green Racing in 2016, Jeffrey Earnhardt is also competing for Rookie of the Year honors and joining him are a couple NASCAR and Daytona Speedweek title sponsors, Can-Am and Kappa.
“This is a great opportunity to be able to make that next step to the Cup Series,” says Earnhardt. “That’s what I’ve been working to do my whole life. That’s always been the goal.To make it there and now that I’m there, I have a lot of learning and lot of development to do; but with a sponsor like Can-Am and Kappa behind us that’s a huge help. As far as the sponsors go, that’s the most stressful and hard part about racing these days. Now to have a great company like them backing us that’s going to make a lot of stress go away and I can focus on myself and my development, and that will make me a better racer.”
Earnhardt is aware his transition to the Sprint Cup level will bring its share of challenges. At the same time he knows there’s plenty of support behind him from Go Green Racing.
“There’s so much that’s different than the XFINITY cars,” says Earnhardt. “The rules are so much different… there’s a lot that’s just different between the XFINITY and the Cup side.
“Having Bobby there is going to be a big help. Bobby Labonte has been a champion and has been one of the best for a long time. He knows all the tracks, he knows a lot about the sport and he can be a great mentor and he can be a great coach.
“Bobby’s definitely going to help me better myself as a driver and help me understand how these cars work and with things that go into being a successful driver. I’m going to have to learn real quick so I can go out there and perform.”
Can-Am and Kappa are also taking on the sponsorship of the Duel at Daytona during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. BRP, the manufacturer of world renown motorized recreational vehicles and engines will serve as the title sponsor for the 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500 as part of the 2016 Speedweeks. The races will be known as the Can-Am Duel at Daytona.
BRP is joining Cyclops Gear Cameras and Kappa sportswear in retail distribution and NASCAR Sponsorship deals. Their agreement provides BRP’s Can-Am brand with the opportunity to sponsor 36 races of the GoFAS No. 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing team with Earnhardt and Bobby Labonte as well as next season full-time driver Alex Labbé in the Canadian Tire Series.