LEXINGTON, N.C. — Black's Tire Service (BTS) has struck a deal to be the primary sponsor of driver AJ Allmendinger's No. 16 Camaro ZL1 for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 14.
Black's Tire will showcase its throwback colors scheme to the track, which the dealership said represents "the new era of BTS, in the tire and automotive business."
Ricky Benton, vice president of sales and marketing at Whiteville, N.C.-based BTS Tires, is excited about the partnership with Kauling Racing.
"Darlington is right in our backyard so we are pumped up and ready," he said. "Goodyear is also the title sponsor of the race, so it will be extra exciting to be there with many customers.
"We will also be doing a Mother's Day promotion allowing our BTS team members and customers an opportunity to bring mom to see some exciting action."
Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing, welcomed its new partner.
"Ricky and I have a long-time relationship; having Black's Tire onboard for Darlington, a home track for their auto service brand in South Carolina, is exciting for everyone involved," Rice said.
Rice said he is "looking forward to seeing the Black's Tire No. 16 Camaro under the lights at Darlington and seeing AJ put on a good show for all the Black's Tire employees and family that come out for the race."
Allmendinger, who is competing in his first full-time Cup season since 2018, stands 25th in the NASCAR Cup standings with a best finish of sixth, at the Daytona 500.
Allmendinger also is competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Kauling Racing. He won the Pit Boss 250 on March 23 in at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas, the sixth race of the 2023 season.
In 2022, BTS sponsored Front Row Motorsports and then rookie driver Todd Gilliland's No. 38 Ford Mustang for the Darlington race.
Black's Tire , founded in 1929, has more than 60 retail/commercial locations in North and South Carolina, a commercial sales division and a tire-retreading business, Carolina Retreads, and seven warehouse and distribution centers operating as BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors.
