Chili’s Grill and Bar has inked a multi-year sponsorship extension with NASCAR Cup Series team Spire Motorsports, the brand officially announced on Tuesday.
The company, which stormed onto the NASCAR scene last season with a catchy jingle to promote its world-famous Presidente Margarita, will continue to adorn the No. 77 Chevrolet, driven by rising star Carson Hocevar, in several NASCAR Cup Series events.
Chili’s will be making its first of multiple appearances on the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro at Circuit of The Americas (in Austin, Texas), on March 1. The remainder of the brand’s sponsorship schedule will be announced at a later date.
“Our partnership with Spire Motorsports continues to grow as we see excitement build at the track and with race fans across the country,” said Tim Format, Chili’s Director of Media. “We both take our business seriously but are eager to embrace opportunities to have fun and show up in unexpected ways together. Last season, Carson took it to a new level, giving fans an authentic reason to connect with Ride the ‘Dente, and we can’t wait to continue that push this year.”
A leader in the casual dining experience, Chili’s has recently expanded its footprint in the motorsports space, serving as a primary sponsor of Carson Hocevar’s Dirt Late Model, plus the High Limit Racing sprint car driven by Gio Scelzi. At this week’s Chili Bowl Nationals, Chili’s sponsors Scelzi, and is the pre- and post-race show sponsor for the FloRacing broadcast.
“The team at Chili’s has really become students of the game,” said Hocevar. “I think the Ride the ‘Dente look was one of the cleanest and most iconic schemes of the season, and it feels like we’re becoming one of the most talked about team and partner relationships in the garage. I’m really excited to build on that in 2026. Every race we were in the Chili’s colors, we were really fast, and our plan is to give back to their commitment by getting them a lot of TV time up front, and hopefully, in Victory Lane.”
Hocevar is entering his third full season of competition at NASCAR’s top level, all of which have been for Spire Motorsports. The Portage, Michigan-native won Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, and had some strong showings in 2025, as well, including runner-up finishes at EchoPark Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway.
“I am infinitely thankful for the relationship Spire Motorsports has built with Chili’s,” said Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson. “From what started as a one- or two-race opportunity, to where we find ourselves in 2026 is a true testament to Chili’s commitment to this platform. We’ve built a solid NASCAR Cup Series program with Carson (Hocevar) and our No. 77 team and expanded the relationship to connect with our High Limit sprint car team and dirt late model project. We’ve had a pit road seat to their story, too, so we truly appreciate how Chili’s has re-emerged as the go-to, casual dining destination across the country. We’re more than proud Chili’s has joined us on our mission to win races and compete for championships. We’ve enjoyed so much to this point and still have much to accomplish.”
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series campaign will begin with The Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 1 at 8:00 PM ET on FOX. Circuit of The Americas (COTA), the first appearance for Chili’s on the No. 77, will be broadcast on FS1 on March 1.
