Horizon Hobby, a global leader in remote-control products, will return to Front Row Motorsports as a primary sponsor of the organization’s NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series programs in 2023, the team announced Thursday.
In addition to primary sponsorship of both Michael McDowell and Zane Smith, Horizon Hobby has partnered with Front Row Motorsports in hopes of forging ahead with innovative ideas to connect the NASCAR and RC communities.
Similar to last season, Horizon Hobby will be displayed as the primary sponsor of the No. 34 Ford Mustang in two NASCAR Cup Series events in 2023, beginning with the second points-paying event of the season at Auto Club Speedway.
The event in Fontana, California is home to the surface product development and marketing team that is responsible for the first-ever licensed NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series RC bodies, in the likeness of McDowell and Smith’s respective vehicles.
Horizon Hobby will return as a primary sponsor for McDowell’s No. 34 Ford Mustang at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Road Course (August 13), which will serve as a homecoming for the Champaign, Illinois-based company.
The company will also serve as a season-long associate sponsor of Michael McDowell’s No. 34 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Last season I had the chance to partner with Horizon Hobby and go to their world-famous flying field called Eli Field with my family,” commented McDowell. “You can immediately tell that Horizon Hobby has great people working for them. And it’s helped me return my passion for RC and pass it along to my children, too. That was a highlight for me away from the track and you just can’t beat the products from Horizon Hobby.”
ARRMA RC, a Horizon Hobby brand, will once again adorn the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry for Zane Smith, the series’ defending champion, when the series returns to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois in June.
Smith will look to bring the No. 38 Ford F-150 to victory lane in the mid-summer event, something he was able to do on four occasions throughout the 2022 NASCAR Truck Series season, en-route to the championship.
“Horizon Hobby has been such a cool partner to work with,” said Smith. “My passion for racing and motorsports began with RC as a kid. Now, I have an ARRMA Infraction replica truck body hanging on the wall in my trophy room, right next to the 2022 Truck Series Championship trophy that they were a part of. I am excited to have them back on board as we chase another championship this year.”
Last year, Horizon Hobby hosted guests from local hobby shops across the country at NASCAR events every weekend, while Front Row Motorsports’ drivers and team members were often seen bashing, flying, or boating across social media. The fun will continue into the 2023 NASCAR season.
“We are ready to grow and bring new ideas to our partnership with Front Row Motorsports into 2023,” said Chris Dickerson, Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Hobby. “The program in 2022 grew in popularity with our customers and fans, and it’s an authentic partnership proven by the passion that Michael, Zane, and the NASCAR community have for our products. We can’t wait to see what this season brings.”
McDowell and Front Row Motorsports come off a career-high season in 2022, where the driver of the No. 34 Ford Mustang recorded an incredible 12 top-10 results, the most in a single-season for a Front Row Motorsports driver.
