Arby’s Abandons Rick Ware Racing in Bold NASCAR Sponsorship Power Move to JR Motorsports

Arby’s has officially switched NASCAR teams for the 2026 season, leaving Rick Ware Racing to join powerhouse JR Motorsports (JRM). As part of the agreement, Arby’s will serve as a primary sponsor for eight races across three JRM drivers while also expanding its presence beyond the racetrack through Dirty Mo Media and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Arby’s Joins JR Motorsports as Multi-Year NASCAR Sponsor Starting in 2026
JR Motorsports has announced a multi-year partnership with Arby’s, bringing the fast-food brand to the forefront of its NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program beginning in 2026.
A NASCAR journalist on X confirmed the move, “NEWS: @Arbys is joining @JRMotorsports as an eight-race primary sponsor for drivers Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier during the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign.”
#NASCAR… Arby’s will sponsor Carson Kvapil at Atlanta, Rockingham, Texas, and Chicago.
The company will jump aboard Sammy Smith’s No. 8 at Talladega, San Diego, and the ROVAL.
Justin Allgaier will carry the colors of Arby’s at Darlington. https://t.co/rk7QI8X7Z5
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) December 16, 2025
As part of the deal, Arby’s will serve as the primary sponsor for eight Xfinity Series races in 2026, split across three JRM drivers, namely Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, and Justin Allgaier. Kvapil will carry Arby’s branding at Atlanta, Rockingham, Texas, and Chicago. Smith’s No. 8 Chevrolet will feature the brand at Talladega, San Diego, and the Charlotte ROVAL, while veteran Allgaier will run fast food giant’s logos at Darlington.
Beyond those races, Arby’s will also be featured as a season-long associate sponsor on Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet, cementing a consistent year-long partnership with JRM. The partnership doesn’t end at race weekends. The company has also signed a personal services agreement with JRM co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Earnhardt, one of the sport’s most influential voices.
The new partnership is expected to play a central role in Arby’s fan engagement strategy, leveraging Earnhardt’s credibility and platforms to expand its reach within the NASCAR community.
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“It’s an exciting opportunity to have Arby’s partner up with our companies,” said Earnhardt. “Arby’s is very aggressive with their activation and we pride ourselves on being a tremendous asset when it comes to offering a variety of unique marketing platforms, so I’m looking forward to how we can work together to continue to grow their business.”
For JRM, the agreement adds another major brand to their already strong sponsorship portfolio. It also reinforces the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team’s position as one of the sport’s most lucrative organizations for long-term visibility.
For Arby’s, the deal signals a strategic investment in stock car racing, combining competitive on-track performance, star power, and social media engagement to deepen its connection with racing fans across the 2026 season and beyond.




