Sunoco's fuel deal with NASCAR ends this year
Today at 08:40 AM
Gasoline distributor Sunoco‘s longtime sponsorship as the official fuel of NASCAR expires after 2025, according to people familiar with the matter, and the sides are heading into the start of the season with no extension having been reached. Dating back to 2004, Dallas-based Sunoco has been the official fuel of the auto racing property‘s three national divisions after it replaced the ConocoPhillips 76 brand. Fuel and tires are the two exclusive competition-related categories in NASCAR that every team has to work with.
The expiration of Sunoco‘s deal comes as it‘s undergone major changes to its overall business over the last decade. While the exact terms of Sunoco‘s deal and any exclusive negotiating window were unclear, sources say NASCAR is expected to hold talks with other brands in the category in the coming weeks and months. NASCAR declined comment, while Sunoco Director of Marketing Fred McConnell told SBJ: "We can confirm that we are in talks with NASCAR about the 2026 season and beyond."
In 2017, Sunoco sold over 1,100 of its convenience stores to 7-Eleven for $3.3B in a deal that was reported at the time as one that started Sunoco‘s shift from being more B2C-focused as a retail store operator to being more B2B-focused as a fuel supplier.
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The terms of Sunoco‘s deal with NASCAR, and how much it pays the sanctioning body annually, have not been learned but are complex because Sunoco is not just a sponsor — it provides fuels for teams to use during races. Industry sources are watching whether NASCAR tries to seek out a company with more of a B2C presence and bigger national or even international footprint.
