Kaz Grala and the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing team will have a brand-new primary sponsor for 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series events during the 2023 season as Fire Department Coffee has reached an agreement with the driver and team.
Sam Hunt Racing made the announcement with a press release that was accompanied by a video on the team’s social channels.
We’re fueling up with @firedeptcoffee ???
We’re excited to announce that FDC has partnered with @KazGrala and the No. 26 team in 2023 with season-long branding, including 10 primary races starting at @autoclubspdwy!#TeamToyota | #SHR26 | #FireDeptCoffee pic.twitter.com/XPytPIhVoV
— Sam Hunt Racing (@Team_SHR26) February 2, 2023
In addition to the 10-race primary sponsorship, the veteran-owned coffee company will also serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for the full season.
Grala says that he has always been seeking a coffee that is right for him, personally. And says that he recently found that with Fire Department Coffee.
“I’m eager to partner with Fire Dept. Coffee in 2023,” said Grala in a team release. “Fire Dept. Coffee was inspired by the vital role that coffee plays in helping firefighters stay alert and energized through long shifts, and their team knows that a similar mentality is required in racing. I’ve always struggled to find a coffee that I truly love, but once I tried Fire Dept. Coffee products a couple of months ago, I was immediately hooked. I can’t wait for our fans to get a chance to taste their coffee and get behind a company that gives so much back to the community.
For the company, which has a mission of helping first responders in need, this partnership was an incredible opportunity to get its brand and message in front of the NASCAR fanbase.
“We are honored to partner with Kaz Grala and Sam Hunt Racing for the 2023 season,” said Luke Schneider, Founder and CEO of Fire Dept. Coffee in a team release. “The partnership with Kaz Grala and Sam Hunt Racing in NASCAR felt like a natural fit, and presented the perfect opportunity for Fire Dept. Coffee to share our incredible coffee, and our mission to support first responders in need.”
Here is the 2023 Fire Department Coffee Primary Sponsorship Schedule with Kaz Grala
- February 25 – Auto Club Speedway
- March 4 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- March 11 – Phoenix Raceway
- March 25 – Circuit of the Americas
- May 13 – Darlington Raceway
- May 27 – Charlotte Motor Speedway
- June 3 – Portland International Raceway
- June 10 – Sonoma Raceway
- July 1 – Chicago Street Course
- July 29 – Road America
Grala was announced as the full-time driver of the No. 26 entry for Sam Hunt Racing for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season back on January 12th. The primary sponsorship picture is really starting to take shape for Grala.
With the addition of Fire Department Coffee, Grala, and the No. 26 team now have a total of 26 races accounted for primary sponsorship-wise for the 2023 season. On January 18th, the team announced Island Brands as a primary sponsor for 16 races this season.
The 24-year-old Grala has recorded top-10 finishes in all three of NASCAR’s National Series divisions.
As he embarks on a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule — the first full-time NXS season of his career — Grala has five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s through his first 44 starts of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career.
Overall, Grala has started a total of 99 races between the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series throughout his career.
The Boston, Massachusets native has one victory in NASCAR National Series competition, which came in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway back in 2017.
