Commercials are a massive part of sports. Especially in America, it’s a big deal. And likewise, NASCAR commercials have become cultural moments that stuck with fans long after the checkered flag dropped. Here are the top 5 commercials from NASCAR that defined racing advertising:
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1. “Heroes” Commercial Kids racing through their neighborhood pretending to be NASCAR drivers while dramatic music builds. One boy crashes his bike, gets back up, and keeps racing. The tagline hits different when one remember being that kid who wanted to drive fast cars for a living.
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2. Jeff Gordon Pepsi Max Test Drive Prank Gordon disguises himself as a regular guy test driving a Camaro, then proceeds to drift around corners and hit speeds that make the salesman scream for his life. The guy’s genuine panic when Gordon reveals his identity made this go viral before viral was even a thing. This was back in 2013.
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3. Kasey Kahne Allstate “Mayhem” Series Kahne shows up at grocery stores and gas stations causing middle-aged women to completely lose their heads and composure. Shopping carts get abandoned, coffee gets spilled, and chaos ensues wherever he goes. The commercials nailed how female fans actually reacted to seeing Kahne during his peak popularity.
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4. Tony Stewart Burger King Employment Stewart behind the counter taking orders, asking customers bizarre questions about their food preferences, and getting completely overwhelmed during rush hour. Watching one of NASCAR’s toughest drivers struggle with “would you like fries with that” was comedy gold.
5. NAPA Know How Martin Truex Jr. Truex Jr. appearing in commercials with a catchy rock beat and the “NAPA Know How” tagline that played on repeat and stuck in viewers’ heads. The absurdness of the situations combined with that infectious jingle made it impossible to forget, even when one wanted to.
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