Report: Jimmy John’s to return to sponsor Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing in 2019
By Nick Tylwalk
One of the better matches between driver and sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series right now looks poised to continue into 2019.
It appears that Kevin Harvick and his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford will get to keep being “Freaky Fast” for at least another season.
Despite rumors that the partnership between Jimmy John’s, the sandwich-focused restaurant company, and SHR might end after Homestead, one of the most reliable sources for the business side of NASCAR says that probably won’t be the case.
That’d be Adam Stern of SportsBusiness Journal, who tweeted this on Monday:
Despite some chatter in the NASCAR garage that suggested otherwise, @JimmyJohns is set to return to @StewartHaasRcng next year, per a person familiar with the matter.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 20, 2018
➖ All other partners on SHR's No. 4 @Ford driven by @KevinHarvick will also be back in '19 aside from @Outback. pic.twitter.com/R6GQswcG8l
While Outback leaving is a bummer — especially for those of us who enjoyed the free Bloomin’ Onions when Harvick did well, which has been often in 2018 — that would mean the 4 team would have a solid sponsorship group for 2019 that includes Jimmy John’s, Busch Beer (said to be signed through next season) and Mobil 1.
It’s also a relief to see another company that has had a notable presence in NASCAR sticking around, as it’s hard to imagine Jimmy John’s would leave Stewart-Haas Racing at the height of its powers for any other reason than to leave the sport altogether. That’s been the case with several brands this year, including 5-hour Energy (sponsor for many of Martin Truex Jr.’s races) and Lowe’s, longtime sole sponsor of Jimmie Johnson.
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Harvick has driven the No. 4 Ford to Victory Lane multiple times this season, and it’s hard to get much better exposure in NASCAR than being on the hood of the winning car. In any case, Harvick, SHR and sandwich fans can all breathe easier for the time being knowing all three of them will be aligned once again to try for even more victories in 2019.