UniFirst announces primary sponsorship schedule for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season

Rhea-AI Summary

UniFirst (NYSE:UNF) announced its 2026 NASCAR Cup Series primary sponsorship schedule with Hendrick Motorsports for the No. 9 Chevrolet driven by Chase Elliott.

UniFirst will be primary sponsor for five races, debuting at Darlington Raceway on March 22, 2026. Other dates: Martinsville on March 29, Richmond on Aug 15, Charlotte ROVAL on Oct 11 (playoff), and Martinsville on Nov 1 (playoff). The car will feature UniFirst's bold green design and "U-Mark."

UniFirst noted this marks its seventh year sponsoring Chase Elliott and serves alongside its role as Official Workwear Provider for Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group.

Insights

Sponsorship Strategist

UniFirst renews visible sports marketing placement with Hendrick Motorsports for five 2026 Cup races; limited direct financial detail.

UniFirst extends a multi-year branding relationship by sponsoring the No. 9 car and Chase Elliott for five 2026 races, starting at March 22. The arrangement includes on-track liveries and continued status as Official Workwear Provider for Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group.

Brand exposure concentrates on specific events, including two playoff races on October 11 and November 1, offering targeted TV visibility. The release contains no revenue, cost, or contractual length details, so financial impact cannot be quantified from this text alone.

Key dependencies and risks include audience reach at the listed events, on-track performance tied to visibility, and activation execution by the teams. Monitor sponsorship impressions and any disclosed financial terms during earnings or future releases across the 2026 season for measurable impact within the next 12 months.

WILMINGTON, Mass., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE:UNF), a North American leader in providing customized business uniform programs, facility service products and first aid and safety services, is excited to announce its 2026 NASCAR Cup Series primary sponsorship schedule with partner Hendrick Motorsports. UniFirst will be the primary sponsor of 2020 Cup Series champion and eight-time Most Popular Driver Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team for five races next season.

The UniFirst No. 9—sporting its signature bold green design and iconic "U-Mark"—will debut at Darlington Raceway on March 22.

The full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule for the UniFirst No. 9 Chevy:

• Darlington Raceway on Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. ET, televised on FS1
• Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m. ET, televised on FS1
• Richmond Raceway on Saturday night, August 15 at 7 p.m. ET, televised on USA
• Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Sunday, October 11 at 3 p.m. ET (playoff race), televised on USA
• Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m. ET (playoff race), televised on NBC

"We're excited for another season of partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and Chase Elliott," said David Katz, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at UniFirst. "The team consistently represents the highest levels of performance and integrity, and we are proud to have our brand associated with them. We are looking forward to getting back on the track and are looking forward to bringing home some wins in 2026."

The 2026 season marks UniFirst's seventh year as a proud sponsor of Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team.

"I'm eager to see what 2026 has in store for our No. 9 team after a solid 2025," said Elliott. "We'll have the UniFirst colors on board at tracks where we had some promising runs last year, and that makes me confident we can build on those and hopefully get UniFirst to victory lane in the process."

As the Official Workwear Provider for Hendrick Motorsports, UniFirst supplies high-quality uniforms and workwear, as well as facility services to the team and its sister company, Hendrick Automotive Group.

For more information on UniFirst, visit UniFirst.com.

About UniFirst
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, as well as first aid and safety supplies and services. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at its three company-owned manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 16,000-plus employee Team Partners, the company outfits more than 2 million workers every day. For additional information, contact UniFirst at 888.296.2740 or visit UniFirst.com. Follow UniFirst on Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram.

About Hendrick Motorsports:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport's premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (15), points-paying race victories (320) and laps led (more than 85,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 41 different seasons, including an active streak of 40 in a row (1986-2025). The team fields four full-time Chevrolet entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 150 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

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SOURCE UniFirst Corporation

FAQ

Which races will UniFirst (UNF) sponsor Chase Elliott's No. 9 car in 2026?

UniFirst will be primary sponsor for five 2026 races: Darlington (Mar 22), Martinsville (Mar 29), Richmond (Aug 15), Charlotte ROVAL (Oct 11) and Martinsville (Nov 1).

When does the UniFirst No. 9 car debut in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series?

The UniFirst No. 9 Chevrolet debuts on March 22, 2026 at Darlington Raceway, televised on FS1.

How long has UniFirst sponsored Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team (UNF)?

The 2026 season marks UniFirst's seventh year as a sponsor of Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team.

Will any of the UniFirst-sponsored races in 2026 be playoff events for Chase Elliott (UNF)?

Yes, two UniFirst-sponsored races are playoff events: Charlotte ROVAL on Oct 11 and Martinsville on Nov 1.

What branding will UniFirst use on the No. 9 car for 2026?

The UniFirst No. 9 will feature the company's bold green design and its iconic "U-Mark" on the Chevrolet.

Does UniFirst provide services to Hendrick Motorsports beyond sponsorship (UNF)?

Yes, UniFirst is the Official Workwear Provider for Hendrick Motorsports and supplies uniforms and facility services to the team and Hendrick Automotive Group.