NASCAR: Rheem switches sponsorship to Joe Gibbs Racing

By Alex Herbst | Dec 7, 2017

HAMPTON, GA - MARCH 05: Joe Gibbs, team owner for Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, stands in the garage after an on track incident during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 5, 2017 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

Longtime NASCAR sponsor Rheem will switch their sponsorship from Richard Childress Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2018 in the Xfinity Series.

Lots of young names will be gracing the seats of Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2018, with Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, and Brandon Jones just to name a few. Two of these rising stars will now have major backing behind them, with Rheem jumping aboard the #18 and #20 Toyotas in the new year.

As reported by multiple sources, the heating, cooling, and commercial refrigeration company will sponsor the #20 Toyota of Bell in 23 races, and partner with Preece in the #18 Toyota in 10 races. Rheem and Ruud will be the two brands featured on the car. The sponsor makes the jump to Gibbs from Richard Childress Racing, where they had been a longtime partner since their absorption of Kevin Harvick Inc.

Team owner Joe Gibbs had this to say about Rheem partnering with their championship-winning team, according to Racer.com.

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"“We’re thrilled to partner with Rheem. They have built a winning company in their industry with many of the same attributes we hold valuable at our race team. Rheem has a long history in our sport and they understand what it takes to be successful. We think Christopher and Ryan will represent them well both on and off the track.”"

Chris Peel, President and COO of Rheem, is equally as excited about the new partnership, according to ESPN.

"“We are delighted to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing. Joe Gibbs’ life, business accomplishments and his company’s values fit well with Rheem’s culture of innovation, integrity and philanthropy. We are also pleased to join JGR’s partner family comprised of some of the world’s most successful, innovative companies that are also committed to leading and winning. We look forward to working and winning with Coach Gibbs and his team.”"

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There could be quite the sponsor shuffle underway at JGR for 2018, with Brandon Jones joining the fold after swapping rides with Matt Tifft. Assuming that GameStop and Reser’s Foods return to the team, then perhaps those sponsors will move to the #19 team that was bouncing between sponsors for most of 2017. It could also be assumed that Interstate Batteries and Peak Antifreeze will return to the team in some capacity, as they remain with JGR on multi-year deals.