The fallout from the closure of Michael Waltrip Racing continued this week as the SportsBusiness Daily reports Aaron’s will not sponsor a car in NASCAR next season.
Aaron’s, a rent-to-own retailer, has been part of NASCAR for the past 15 years, but that will come to an end at the end of this season.
The Atlanta-based company issued a statement to address Thursday’s news, saying it has “decided to take some time off” from sponsoring a team in NASCAR.
“The NASCAR fan base is an important audience for us and we have built substantial equity over the past 15 years,” the statement read. “We are exploring creative ways to continue to participate in the sport in 2016 including media, brand relationships and track activation.”
Aaron’s scored its first win with MWR in 2009 when David Reutimann won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brian Vickers also took the Aaron’s colors to Victory Lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2013. Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin and Brett Moffitt have also piloted the Aaron’s-sponsored car.
David Ragan currently drives the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota, but that will come to an end when the team shuts its doors at the end of the season. Neither Ragan or Clint Bowyer, the team’s other driver, has announced plans for the 2016 season.
