What a sight for sore eyes — the Bloomin’ Onion is back in action. Outback Steakhouse will serve as the primary sponsor for driver Stephen Mallozzi and the No. 22 AM Racing Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 14th. This marks the first primary sponsorship for the brand since the 2020 season.
Mallozzi, who will be making his fifth start in NASCAR Truck Series competition and has worked as a server at several Outback Steakhouse locations since 2021, is honored to be carrying the brand on his race truck.
“I am absolutely stoked to bring Outback Steakhouse on board,” said Mallozzi in a team release. “To have a nationally recognizable brand on the side of my truck is huge for me, not just because I get behind the wheel another time, but because it helps my brand image in a big way.
“Not to mention, it doesn’t hurt to have a good relationship with a brand that makes some of the best steaks in the country!”
It’s an amazing thing for Mallozzi to have the company that he’s worked for actually invest in his racing career with this opportunity.
“To have worked for a company that supports its employees like this is pretty awesome,” Mallozzi added. “I’ve always had a great relationship with all of my bosses, and to finally get a deal done is an incredible feeling. I’m also very excited to be returning to AM Racing, because I expect us to keep improving in our relationship together. I can’t thank all the guys at AM Racing, Outback Steakhouse, and Josh Reaume enough for putting this opportunity together for me”.
After running the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season, the 22-year-old racer Tweeted that he worked a shift at Outback Steakhouse the day after the race. This caught the attention of an Outback executive, and the sponsorship partnership came together quickly afterward.
Here is the Tweet that got the ball rolling for Mallozzi, and AM Racing:
So if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like being a small-time racing driver…
Yesterday I drove myself to @MartinsvilleSwy at 7 AM.
I raced in the @NASCAR_Trucks race for @AMRacingNASCAR.
I drove myself back to my apartment, getting back around 3 AM.
Now, I’m serving @Outback. pic.twitter.com/rlBlJZYox4
— Stephen Mallozzi (@DriverMallozz) April 15, 2023
Mallozzi, a native of Swedesboro, New Jersey, has a career-best finish of 22nd in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which came in his series debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2022.
The young driver has written four memoir entries for TobyChristie.com, which give a behind-the-scenes look at his journey up the racing ladder. The Series, which is titled The Memoirs of a Small Time Racing Driver, has shown the emotions behind the scenes of triumphs, as well as the low points on the track. But further than that, Mallozzi showcases the off-the-track battles that up-and-coming drivers, and drivers of all kinds, go through.
In his last start with AM Racing, which came at Pocono Raceway on July 22nd, Mallozzi finished 24th in the 36-car field. Mallozzi will look to score his career-best finish at Bristol Motor Speedway.
