Earlier this week, Germain Racing said that it was exploring options for a potential sale of the team in the absence of a signed sponsorship contract. Those concerns have now turned into reality as their main sponsor GEICO will not return to the fold next year.
GEICO is the sponsor for the No. 13 team of Germain Racing. It is now being said that they have confirmed to Germain Racing of their plans to not renew the deal. The sponsorship deal ends with the 2020 NASCAR season.
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According to leading NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass, Germain Racing will now look to sell the team. He also strongly opined that GEICO will not sponsor any NASCAR team in 2021.
Germain Racing confirms Geico has told team it won't return to sponsor No. 13 car in 2021. Team has said with no sponsor signed, it's exploring sale of team. My understanding is Geico won't sponsor any team in NASCAR (and possibly other motorsports) in 2021. Series deal remains.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 5, 2020
The earlier statement from the team said, “At this time, anything is on the table. Germain Racing does not have a signed sponsorship contract for 2021 and Bob Germain is exploring conversations for a potential sale.”
The history of Germain Racing in NASCAR
GEICO is also one of the premier sponsors of NASCAR. Despite discontinuing their association with Germain Racing, their current deal with NASCAR stays intact. GEICO joined as one of the four main sponsors of NASCAR when the new sponsorship model was introduced, becoming the official Insurance Partner.
Germain Racing currently fields their team in the Cup Series. Ty Dillon drives the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro for them and has been at the fore since 2017. He is currently 27th in the Cup Series standings.
The team first arrived on the NASCAR scene with two Cup Series races in 2008. GEICO joined in 2009 and has been around since then. Max Papis was the first driver of the No. 13 car and remained with the outfit till 2010.
Casey Mears then joined them after Papis bowed out. Mears stayed with the team for six years, and Ty Dillon joined them from the 2017 season. Dillon’s best result is a sixth-place finish during the Daytona 500 in 2019. He also scored a stage win for them at Bristol last year.
If the sale of the team takes place, Dillon will end the 2020 season without much clarity on his future. Last month, another NASCAR team, Leavine Family Racing, announced plans to sell.
