Top Stories of 2016, #5: A new era in NASCAR with Monster Energy
Coming in at fifth in our countdown of the Top 20 Stories of 2016 is the earthshaking change that's coming to NASCAR's premier division.
Photo by: NASCAR Media
Top 20 Stories of 2016
Check out Motorsport.com's countdown of the biggest stories in racing this year.
After 12 years as the Sprint (Nextel) Cup Series, the pinnacle of stock car racing will now be known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup.
Monster is just the third different company to ever serve as the entitlement sponsor at the Cup level, preceded by Sprint (Nextel) and Winston. Before then, the series went by Strictly Stock in its maiden season and then Grand National from 1950 to 1970.
Monster marks a new era for NASCAR and could be critical in changing the direction of the sport, just as what was then known as Nextel did in 2004 with the Chase format.
Monster reaches a younger demographic that NASCAR needs help courting, bringing with them an unconventional style that is a complete switch from the buttoned-up corporate look pushed during the Sprint era. In fact, Monster Energy's VP of Sport Marketing Mitch Covington flat-out said that they want to see more "raw emotion" from the drivers in 2017.
It's safe to say that a fresh new chapter in NASCAR history is upon us, one that could help to reignite interest in fans that have drifted away and attract new fans both stateside and worldwide.
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