NASCAR & Auto Racing

Guy Fieri enters the world of NASCAR as part-owner of NC-based Cup series team

Guy Fieri takes photos on the court during pre-game festivities at the NBA All-Star Game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Feb. 17, 2019.
Guy Fieri takes photos on the court during pre-game festivities at the NBA All-Star Game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Feb. 17, 2019. jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Guy Fieri, the Food Network icon known as the mayor of Flavortown USA, has entered the world of NASCAR as part-owner of a top-flight Cup series team.

Fieri joined Hall of Fame driver Jimmie Johnson’s Statesville-based Legacy Motor Club as a “strategic owner,” according to a team announcement Thursday.

Legacy Motor Club also fields the teams of drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek. The 2027 Daytona 500 will be Johnson’s final race before he retires.

As for Fieri?

His “involvement will extend beyond ownership, with plans for collaborative content, fan engagement initiatives, and licensed merchandise that brings together racing, food, and lifestyle culture,” according to the announcement.

The team whetted fans’ appetites by promising initiatives involving Fieri throughout the race season.

In a statement, Johnson said he wants his team “to reach far beyond race day, and Guy’s creativity, energy, and perspective are exactly what this ownership group is about.”

“This is about more than racing,” Fieri said in the statement. “It’s about creating a brand that connects with fans everywhere, from the track to the table.”

We can’t wait to see what he’ll rev up.

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Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
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