Kraft has added another chapter to their illustrious motor sports career by joining Stewart-Haas Racing. Kraft Foods’ iconic Oreo cookie and Ritz cracker brands will be part of the Stewart-Haas Racing team, as the team’s official cookie and cracker. Tony Stewart will carry the Ritz branding on the upper chest of his uniform and on the B-post (The break between the Doors and the quarter window) of his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala, teammate Ryan Newman will carry the Oreo branding on the upper chest of his uniform and also on the B-post of his No. 39 U.S. Army/Tornado/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala.
Kraft Foods will continue to be an official NASCAR sponsor with Oreo keeping its role as the official cookie of NASCAR and Ritz will remain the official cracker of NASCAR.
“Oreo and Ritz have a long, rich heritage with NASCAR and are pleased to announce the renewal of our NASCAR sponsorship,” said Michael Tilley, category manager consumer and customer engagement for Kraft Foods. “NASCAR has been a terrific partner, helping Kraft connect with its many passionate fans across the country. We’re privileged to be a sponsor. This year, we’re thrilled to be a part of Stewart-Haas Racing and looking forward to what will be an exciting season.”
“Kraft Foods has been in the NASCAR scene since 2000, and thanks to the strong marketing programs of brands familiar to millions of fans such as Oreo and Ritz, they’ve helped our sport grow,” said Jim O’Connell, vice president of corporate marketing and international development, NASCAR. “Kraft Foods’ latest endeavor with Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing complements the company’s overall NASCAR involvement, and it’s a testament to the strength of the sport.”
In its inaugural year of operation in 2009, Stewart-Haas Racing showed that it was new in name only. Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman combined to win four races – five with the non-point NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway – along with two poles, 14 top-threes, 20 top-fives, 38 top-10s and a total of 628 laps led. They each earned a spot at the coveted berth of the elite Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and after finishing the year sixth and ninth, respectively, they earned another distinction with the duo being tied for having completed the most laps of all Sprint Cup drivers, as they each finished 99.8 percent of the 10,492 laps available, missing only 24 laps.
“We had a great first season on the racetrack that has helped us off the track in preparation for our second year,” Stewart said. “We’re proud to have Oreo and Ritz on our racecars and grateful for Kraft Foods’ support of Stewart-Haas Racing. As good as last year was, we want to be even better this year, and we’re glad Kraft Foods will be along for the ride.”
Kraft will get an early start at Daytona when Tony Stewart will drive the No. 4 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet Impala in the Feb. 13 Camping World 300 Nationwide Series race. “We’ve had a lot of success in Daytona,” said Stewart, who has 14 career victories at Daytona. “It’s the only Nationwide Series race on my schedule this year, and I’d like nothing better than to go undefeated and bring Oreo and Ritz a win right of out of the box.”
