Story By: MICHAEL WALTRIP BREWING – BRISTOL, VA – Michael Waltrip Brewing will serve as an associate sponsor for Stewart Friesen’s No. 52 Toyota at the CRC Brakleen 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, July 22.
The sponsorship is a unique way for the company to announce a new distribution partnership with Stocktertown Beverage to bring the Michael Waltrip Brewing Company’s line of delicious craft beers to Pennsylvania. The partnership kicks off in August with the Keystone State’s debut of the brewery’s Bristol Sunshine Tangerine Ale.
“We are excited to support Stewart and the Halmar Friesen Racing team this weekend at Pocono Raceway,” Michael Waltrip said. “Our partnership with Stockertown Beverage will allow race fans to bring two of my favorite things together- beers and NASCAR-at great tracks like Pocono Raceway and across the beautiful state of Pennsylvania.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to add Michael Waltrip Brewing to our portfolio of great beers” said Hal Bittner, Vice President, Stockertown Beverage. “As one of the leading beer distributors in Pennsylvania, we are selective about adding new products. But, when we had the opportunity to partner with a two-time Daytona 500 Champion whose beers are outstanding, it was an easy decision.”
Friesen, a native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is in 11th place in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings, with five top 5’s and five top 10’s this season.
Since joining the series in 2016 he has three wins and racked up 47 top five finishes. Friesen is a decorated standout of Dirt Modifieds and Sprint Cars with over 330 victories in his dirt racing career stretching back to 1999. He won the Short Track Super Series North and South Championships in 2020.
“We’re really excited to have Michael Waltrip Brewing on board at Pocono Raceway to celebrate the arrival of Michael Waltrip Brewing beers in the Pennsylvania!” Friesen said.
The on-track sponsorship is the latest Michael Waltrip Brewing initiative designed to expand the brand’s appeal through various distribution, storefront expansion and licensing efforts. The company announced a public stock offering on StartEngine last week and has already raised nearly $200,000.
In May, the company announced a partnership with Elevatus Brand Partners, which intends to develop and roll out 100 Michael Waltrip Taproom locations—the company’s signature sports and craft beer themed restaurants.
Michael Waltrip Brewing also recently formed a partnership with Bevana Partners, to provide accelerated distribution and retail activation expansion as well as production capabilities to brew and package Michael Waltrip Beers at scale.
The first Michael Waltrip Brewing Company brewery and taproom opened in Bristol Va—just minutes from NASCAR track Bristol Motor Speedway, in 2021.
