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NASCAR Cup Series: Ally Bank to sponsor Jimmie Johnson full-time in 2019

By Asher Fair

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 13: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, stands by his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 13, 2018 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 13: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, stands by his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 13, 2018 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Ally Bank has been announced as the primary sponsor for the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson for the entire 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season.

In mid-March, it was announced that long-time NASCAR Cup Series sponsor Lowe’s, the company that has sponsored seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson ever since the start of his Cup Series career back in the 2001 season, would not be returning to the sport in the 2019 season.

As a result, the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that is driven by Johnson, whose 2018 season has been the worst of his Cup Series career, had been without a confirmed primary sponsor for the 2019 season for more than seven months.

However, Ally Bank, which was named GMAC until 2010, has now announced that it will be sponsoring the #48 Chevrolet, as the company has signed a two-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports that is set to go into effect next season.

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This two-year contract involves a full-season buy-in, as Ally Bank is set to sponsor Johnson’s car in each and every one of the 36 points races and the two exhibition races in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, which is a huge boost for Hendrick Motorsports and for the 83-time Cup Series race winner himself.

This news was confirmed via a joint announcement this past Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway prior to the First Data 500, which was the opening race of the round of 8 of the playoffs that was held on the track. Johnson finished this race in 12th place, and Ally Bank served as one of his sponsors for it.

Here is what Johnson had to say about the addition of Ally Bank as his primary sponsor for the 2019 season, according to NASCAR.

"“To enter this new chapter in my racing career and have one sponsor once again, it says a lot about Hendrick Motorsports and the value of this 48 car, then also our sport. As today unfolds with the media buys they’ve done and the way they’re going to advertise in our sport, as you see them engage next year and really using NASCAR as a marketing tool for their company, you’ll all be very, very impressed with their vision and the importance they see in NASCAR racing and the main reason why they’re here and involved.“I feel that this is really, really a good fit and they really want to support me as an individual and the things that I’m into and why I love racing. So I think out of the gate from a primary standpoint, this is a home run and it can only get better from here if I can loop in either endorsement or associate sponsors from here.”"

Here is what Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick had to say about the matter, according to NASCAR.

"“I wasn’t worried about it because I had pieces, but what’s really so special about this deal is Jimmie’s had his car by one sponsor all these years, and now he’s going to have one sponsor. It was kind of like it was from heaven. Just everything lined up.“You don’t get me speechless sometimes, but that [full season buy-in] kind of got me speechless.”"

Here is what Ally Bank CEO Jeffrey Brown had to say about his company signing with Hendrick Motorsports to sponsor Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet for the next two seasons, according to NASCAR.

"“I think it’s simple. I talked about our philosophy and our mantra is really, ‘Do it right.’ And if we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it right. We’re going to control, so ultimate control for the full season was very important.”"

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Will Jimmie Johnson bounce back from what has been a disappointing 2018 season for him in what is set to be his first NASCAR Cup Series season with Ally Bank as his primary sponsor in 2019? Will Hendrick Motorsports’ relationship with Ally Bank turn into a long-term relationship that extends beyond the conclusion of the 2020 season, which is the final season of the current contract between the two parties? The 2019 season is set to begin with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday, February 17, 2019.

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