WILMINGTON, Mass., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF), a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services, in partnership with 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports, is bringing the UniFirst No. 9 Chevrolet back to the track. Driven by 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, the car will race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 8, beginning at 2 PM ET and televised on Prime Video.

The freshly designed UniFirst No. 9 Chevrolet exudes energy with its bold green and gray tones, sleek racing stripes, and the iconic “U-Mark” symbolizing UniFirst’s commitment to exceptional service.

“The UniFirst No. 9 is back, and we’re fired up to see Chase go for a win in Michigan,” said David Katz, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at UniFirst. “NASCAR fans bring unmatched energy, and we’re proud to be part of the excitement on race day.”

The Michigan race is one of five appearances for the UniFirst No. 9 Chevrolet during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Fans can also look forward to seeing the UniFirst No. 9 on these final two upcoming dates:

• August 16 at Richmond Raceway
• October 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL

“I’m looking forward to getting the UniFirst Chevy on track at Michigan,” said Elliott, who has 10 top-10 finishes in 14 starts at the 2-mile oval. “It’s a fast track and one that I enjoy going to. Last year, we were able to lead some laps but didn’t quite get the finish we wanted. Ready to see what we can accomplish this weekend with the UniFirst colors on board.”

The partnership between UniFirst and Hendrick Motorsports reaches a milestone in 2025, marking 10 years of collaboration. This year also marks the sixth season UniFirst has sponsored Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team. UniFirst is the Official Workwear Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, supplying work clothing and uniforms to the team, as well as to its sister company, Hendrick Automotive Group. For more information on UniFirst, visit UniFirst.com.

About UniFirst
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, as well as first aid and safety supplies and services. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at its three company-owned ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 16,000-plus employee Team Partners, the company outfits more than 2 million workers every day. For additional information, contact UniFirst at 888.296.2740 or visit UniFirst.com. Follow UniFirst on Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram.

About Hendrick Motorsports:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race victories (316) and laps led (more than 83,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 41 different seasons, including an active streak of 40 in a row (1986-2025). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 150 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

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SOURCE UNIFIRST CORPORATION

Atlanta Motor Speedway has been a peg on the NASCAR schedule for years and years. The track will remain on the schedule into the future, but there will be something different moving forward. 2022 saw the track transform into a more drafting style race track. Now, forever moving forward, the track that used to be the Championship deciding race will go by a new name.

NEWS: Iconic Atlanta Motor Speedway is now @EchoPark Speedway.

READ MORE HERE: https://t.co/YU9pd8GajL pic.twitter.com/V9TA2QrBaQ

— EchoPark Speedway (@EchoParkSpdwy) June 3, 2025

Goodbye Atlanta, Hello EchoPark Speedway

In a press release on the Atlanta Motor Speedway website, the official news of the track’s renaming to EchoPark Speedway was made official. According to that release, Speedway Motorsports and EchoPark Automotive officially introduced the new identity for Georgia’s only NASCAR track. The 66-year-old track in Hampton, Georgia, will no longer go by Atlanta Motor Speedway.

” Through a new partnership, the speedway, which hosts two NASCAR Cup Series races annually, including the upcoming Quaker State 400 available at Walmart on June 28th, will carry the EchoPark brand for the duration of a seven-year, multi-million dollar agreement,” the statement says.

Introducing EchoPark Speedway.

Don’t worry, we are still the Atlanta you know and love. Just a new name and a fresh paint job! pic.twitter.com/xjmlauLMgV

— EchoPark Speedway (@EchoParkSpdwy) June 3, 2025

EchoPark Automotive is a business that specializes in pre-owned vehicle sales. They have a very heavy presence in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, where a majority of the fans who make the trip to the Hampton-based track yearly come from.

Money Talks, It Seems

You can’t step in front of the thing that runs sports, ultimately, and that’s money. This is the case for Atlanta, sorry, EchoPark. Chairman and CEO of EchoPark Automotives’ parent company, Sonic Automotive, David B. Smith, is thrilled they were able to make this happen and that it is only going to help grow the brand more.

” We have enjoyed serving guests in the Atlanta metro area since EchoPark Atlanta opened its doors in 2020,” Smith said. ” This partnership allows us to share the value of the exceptional EchoPark car-buying experience with more guests in Atlanta and the surrounding area who enjoy the excitement of NASCAR racing at this iconic venue.”

Not the First Time

This isn’t the first time a NASCAR track has had a name change, or has a corporate partner buy the rights to the name of a track, for that matter. Look no further than Charlotte Motor Speedway, which was famously called Lowe’s Motor Speedway from 1999-2009. Or when Sonoma Raceway used to be called Infineon Raceway from 2002-2011.

Name changes are bound to happen in sports, especially when a sponsor brings big money. Then again, it seems these name changes only happen at SMI-owned tracks. Isn’t that a bit odd? Then again, EchoPark is owned by the Smith Family, so obviously, this move was a long time coming.

It’s Still Atlanta

Despite the name change, it’s always going to be Atlanta Motor Speedway. Sorry, but EchoPark Speedway doesn’t pop in my opinion. The track isn’t going to change, so the memories that have already been made and the memories to come will still be great. It’s just going to be hard not to still refer to the track as Atlanta.

Read Next: Christopher Bell Wins Atlanta, Despite More Caution Controversy

Main Photo: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire

Recording Date: February 23, 2025

Chad Knaus was spotted congratulating Carson Hocevar after his second place finish in Nashville – and it has sparked speculation that the youngster could be the man to replace Chase Elliott

Hendrick Motorsports vice president of competition Chad Knaus was seen congratulating Carson Hocevar for his runner-up finish in Nashville, sparking a frenzy on social media.

Hocevar, who has caused plenty of controversy with several incidents this season, earned commendations from Hendrick’s own Jeff Gordon during an interview on Amazon Prime Video at the Coca-Cola 600. The 22-year-old, who earlier revealed to Express U.S. Sports his secret sauce for fearlessness in the Cup Series, is currently ranked 17th after turning heads with his performances.

Speculation is rife that he might slide into the No. 48 car, once driven by Jimmie Johnson with Knaus as the crew chief, bagging seven Cup Series Championships. Yet, as whispers of Knaus’ interaction with Hocevar made rounds, some fans are betting he could take over Chase Elliott’s spot in the No. 9 car amid his frustrations so far this season.

READ MORE: Bubba Wallace breaks NASCAR ‘jinx’ and makes claim Michael Jordan will loveREAD MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr gives ‘selfish’ advice to Chase Elliott after NASCAR complaint

Despite Elliott’s winless streak this season and a 15th place finish in Nashville, his status seems solid as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver and fifth in points, but that hasn’t stopped fan theories online.

A fan posted: “Future driver of the 9 car. I’m calling it now,” while another clapped back: “Do you realize how much $ the 9 car makes them? No shot unless he wants out”.

One fan suggested: “Give him the 9 car” Another chimed in with their own thoughts on Reddit, stating: “Spire is HMS affiliated and Bowman’s getting replaced. That’s all it means,” to which another user replied: “This but Chase” and a reply read: “That would be one of the wildest driver replacement in history”.

Another fan noted: “As much as Chase has struggled, replacing him over Bowman (who I also don’t believe needs to be replaced) would be insane. Even if Chase isn’t winning regularly, a clear slump in his form still leaves him 5th in points”.

It was also pointed out: “Rick (Hendrick) has probably the best history in the sport of being loyal to drivers. Gave (Dale Earnhardt) Jr time to figure everything out and did everything in his power to help him. Let Byron develop instead of dumping him after a bad rookie season.

“Kept Kasey (Kahne) in the 5 for years when it was obvious he was a step behind his teammate the last few years. I think HMS even gave support to LFR when he went there.

“Rick knows guys take time to develop/slump occasionally, and he lets guys work through it instead of instantly replacing them. He’s super loyal to his drivers.”

As one commenter noted: “And like it’s been said, Chase’s ‘slump’ still has him top 5 in points for almost all of last season and all of this season so far. He literally just hasn’t won much.”

Despite no indication that Hocevar will replace Elliott in the No. 9 car, recent actions by Knaus and on-track performances have fans continuing to speculate about a possible driver switch during the upcoming silly season.

FOX produced its first million-plus audience average outside of the Indianapolis 500 and season opening race at St. Petersburg for Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix won by Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood.

The 1,061,000 viewers who tuned in represent a 74.4-percent year-to-year increase over the 608,246 who watched Scott Dixon win in 2024 on NBC’s USA cable channel.

The broadcast peaked with 1,201,000 viewers from 2:30-2:45pm, according to FOX, and sits as the second-most watched Detroit GP since 1,399,000 saw Pato O’Ward win the second race of the doubleheader in 2021.

Averaged across the first seven races aired on FOX, 2,173,000 viewers have consumed IndyCar on its network, up 31 percent from 2024 when the blend of NBC network and USA cable broadcasts produced an average of 1,662,000 viewers.

Email_NewsRelease.jpg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editor’s Note: Supporting logos and b-roll available for download here.

ICONIC TRACK RENAMED ECHOPARK SPEEDWAY

eps-primary-onlight.png

HAMPTON, Ga. (June 3, 2025) – Speedway Motorsports and EchoPark Automotive introduced the new identity of Georgia’s only NASCAR track today; the iconic, 66-year-old facility in Hampton, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, is now EchoPark Speedway.

Through a new partnership, the speedway – which hosts two NASCAR Cup Series races annually, including the upcoming June 28 Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart – will carry the EchoPark brand for the duration of a seven-year, multi-million-dollar agreement.

Specializing in pre-owned vehicle sales, EchoPark Automotive is one of three operating segments of Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Fortune 300 company and one of the largest automotive and powersports retailers in the United States. EchoPark Automotive operates 17 locations in 13 markets, including Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, where a majority of Atlanta NASCAR fans travel from each year to visit the historic speedway. From restart zone signage to fan zone activations and race entitlements, the pre-owned car dealership chain has leveraged resources across nine Speedway Motorsports facilities nationwide to activate its brand and reach race fans and potential new customers. Acquiring the naming rights to one of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks is the latest and biggest step in this strategy for EchoPark Automotive.

“We have enjoyed serving guests in the Atlanta metro area since EchoPark Atlanta opened its doors in 2020,” said David B. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Sonic Automotive. “This partnership allows us to share the value of the exceptional EchoPark car-buying experience with more guests in Atlanta and the surrounding area who enjoy the excitement of NASCAR racing at this iconic venue.”

EchoPark Automotive is seen as the number one pre-owned car buying experience, reflected in over 100,000 five-star reviews. Using this iconic sports venue, which is the largest in all of Georgia, will help EchoPark Automotive share the message of the brand to millions locally and nationally through major televised NASCAR events.

EchoPark Speedway’s entire 850-acre facility has undergone a massive facelift in preparation for its upcoming national debut as the opening race for the TNT portion of the NASCAR broadcast schedule and the kickoff event for the new in-season Cup Series tournament. Fans will see the new EchoPark Speedway’s signature green color and the new track logo across track walls, Victory Lane, and throughout the concourse when they attend the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart on Saturday night, June 28, or tune in nationally at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.

The winner of the race will also receive a “nearly new” EchoPark Chevy Silverado and a trailer equipped with an 85th Anniversary, Sturgis Motorcyle Rally Limited Edition Harley-Davidson motorcycle. These exclusive motorcycles can be pre-ordered now at SturgisHD.com, but the very first one of only 26 manufactured will go to the winner of the inaugural EchoPark Speedway race. This incredible prize will be presented to the winner in Victory Lane courtesy of EchoPark Automotive.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the incredible vehicles we sell at EchoPark and share the exposure with another important entity in our Sonic Automotive family,” said Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive. “The Sturgis Rally is right around the corner, and we know NASCAR fans and drivers will not only love the new presentation of this track, but also the opportunity to see this limited edition Harley-Davidson presented in Victory Lane.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with an innovative, customer-focused company like EchoPark Automotive as the entitlement partner of our newly named EchoPark Speedway,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “EchoPark Automotive is as committed to exceptional customer service as we are, and we know that together we’ll elevate our fan experience to a new level unmatched for Southern hospitality. This partnership will fuel great experiences for fans attending our speedway for years to come.”

EchoPark Speedway has a storied history in NASCAR, hosting races every year since it opened as Atlanta International Raceway in 1960. The speedway hosted NASCAR’s season finale from 1987-2000, including the epic conclusion of the 1992 campaign which saw “The King,” Richard Petty, compete in his last NASCAR race; future legend Jeff Gordon make his first NASCAR Cup Series start; and Georgia’s own Bill Elliott win the race – narrowly losing the title to underdog owner-driver Alan Kulwicki.

Racing enthusiasts have long celebrated EchoPark Speedway’s high-speed, close-quarters racing action and exhilaratingly close finishes. Since its reconfiguration to a 28-degree banked, superspeedway-style track in 2021, that reputation has only been further bolstered. Three- and four-wide racing with abundant lead changes have become the norm when NASCAR visits Atlanta. In February 2024, EchoPark Speedway saw the closest three-wide finish in NASCAR history with race winner Daniel Suárez eclipsing Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch by just 0.003 and 0.007 seconds, respectively. Earlier this year, a new record was set for most lead changes at the speedway. This month’s Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart is expected to continue that trend of thrilling NASCAR action in Atlanta.

EchoPark Speedway will host two NASCAR national touring series during the spectacular June 26-28 summer event. Schedules, tickets, and camping for the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart weekend, can be found online at www.EchoParkSpeedway.com.

EPS PR

I can already hear Pat McAfee:

“John Cena goes under the ring… and pulls out… the Slim Jim table, brought to you by everyone’s favorite Meat Sticks and Jerky – try their new hot BBQ flavor now in convenience stores everywhere!”

In a you-can’t-make-it-up, and almost parody-like situation, AdWeek has announced that the WWE and Slim Jim have extended their 2023 partnership that will now see the famous beef jerky both as a center-ring logo sponsor, as well as be featured on all “wrestling folding tables” for its Monday Night Raw, SmackDown and NXT events. 

This is in addition to plenty of other sponsor logos and images around the once-fabled blue canvas wrestling ring, as the WWE continues to look more and more like a NASCAR driver’s race car every passing week. This has been the case ever since it’s new TKO partners took over majority control of the wrestling promotion as well as a massive Netflix deal that kicked off this past January.

“Extending our partnership during Monday Night RAW will give us even more opportunities to create unique and memorable experiences that tap into the rich history and energy of both Slim Jim and WWE,” said Ashley Spade, VP and GM of snacks at Conagra Brands. 

Oh, it’ll be memorable alright, but a quick look at social media says that’s for all the wrong reasons.

Listen, as a huge and lifelong WWE fan who has worked for some of the biggest WWE and wrestling-related media entities, this stinks as much as a Slim Jim left out in your car on a 100-degree day.

Sure, I understand that the promotion’s parent company TKO Group Holdings, is primarily driven by bringing in as much revenue as possible, but when it cheapens and compromises the actual wrestling event you’re watching, then that’s frustrating. 

Wrestling fans had better get ready for a ton of “table” matches in the near future. I wouldn’t be surprised if a wrestling match didn’t have a table included in it. “The beautiful sport we all loved is gone,” wrote one person on X, with literally hundreds following suit.

WWE COMES ACROSS AS NASCAR

But hey, at least you’ll be able to drink Logan Paul’s PRIME Drink – which is plastered all over WWE arenas these days, to help you wash down those Slim Jims! 

As I previously wrote, the wrestling business and the WWE have changed tremendously in recent months, in large part due to Netflix as their Monday Night RAW program has fallen from over 5 million viewers to now anywhere from 2-3 million weekly in the United States. 

As the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase once said – “Everybody’s got a price!” 

But that doesn’t mean it’s not going to come across as cringe. 

THOUGHTS? COMMENTS? TWEET ME: @TheGunzShow