Alvin Kamara went to his first NASCAR race last season at Homestead-Miami Speedway decked out in Bubba Wallace apparel. Since then, the the New Orleans Saints running back has been a vocal NASCAR fan, and less than a year after attending his first race, he’s now a team sponsor.
Kamara’s juice bar chain based in Louisiana, called The Big Squeezy, will sponsor Ryan Vargas in the No. 6 JD Motorsports Chevrolet in Saturday’s second-tier Xfinity Series race on Daytona International Speedway’s road course.
Vargas’ car previously didn’t have a sponsor for this weekend’s race, and thanks to Kamara’s piqued interest in getting more involved in NASCAR and some chatter on Twitter, the team now has a sponsor on the car.
I’ve also discovered that I could have my own racing team… Stay tuned @NASCAR 😂
— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) February 15, 2021
At Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500, Kamara was tweeting about racing for much of the day in between talking to NASCAR executives, including president Steve Phelps, the running back said Wednesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
AUDIO: New Orleans @Saints Running Back @A_kamara6 is excited to partner @bigsqueezyjuice with @RyanVargas_23 & @JDMotorsports01
🎧Alvin explains how the deal came together on #SXMOnTrack w/ @DanielleTrotta & @LarryMac28
Listen to the full interview –> https://t.co/VyHR2HkQdN pic.twitter.com/RCIDGUDe6g
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 17, 2021
Kamara said he was curious about what it would take to be an owner or a sponsor, explaining:
“I’m like, ‘Man, ownership must be hard, and you know, sponsorship and all this.’ And they’re like, ‘No, not really. It’s easy.’ So I shoot out a tweet, I’m like, ‘OK, I just found out I could own my own team or possibly have my own team.’ So, you know, everybody’s going crazy. I get back on Monday, and I’m seeing a lot of tweets and stuff.
“I stumble across Ryan’s tweet talking about how he doesn’t have a sponsor for this week’s race. So I’m like, OK. So in my head, I have no knowledge of what it takes to sponsor a car, none of that, so … I have a number in my head where I’m like this is probably some big money to do this. But whatever, let me see. So I tweet Ryan back.”
Hey guys!
I don’t normally make posts like this, but headed into this weekend we have no primary sponsor on the car for the Daytona Road Course.
We’re working hard to secure partners for this year, & if you or someone you know is interested, reach out!
Let’s make it happen!💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/2eYPNikAvZ
— Ryan Vargas (@RyanVargas_23) February 15, 2021
I’ll message you shortly!!🙏🏼💪🏼 https://t.co/Ur6OFeFQQV
— Ryan Vargas (@RyanVargas_23) February 15, 2021
Kamara said Vargas sent him a message on Twitter explaining more about becoming a team sponsor and put Kamara in touch with the team’s vice president of sales and marketing. And according to Kamara, all this was still happening while he’s on his way home from the Daytona 500.
He continued explaining what happened to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio:
“I land, call Tony, talk to him, and I’m like, ‘Oh shoot, I can do this.’ So I’m like, ‘Why not?’ I was like, ‘Man, I got something I can market right now.’ Ryan obviously didn’t have a sponsor so, I’m like, ‘Man, why not?’ And then I actually like the sport. I’m like, it’s perfect. I feel like I kind of manifested it when I tweeted it on Sunday.”
🚨NEWS🚨
Beyond excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with @Saints RB @A_kamara6 & his company The Big Squeezy for this weekend’s race at the Daytona Road Course!
Alvin’s excitement about NASCAR is unmatched & I’m honored to be the guy he jumps into the sport with!💪🏼🚀 pic.twitter.com/p9FyUlGCzl
— Ryan Vargas (@RyanVargas_23) February 17, 2021
Excited to have the opportunity to have @bigsqueezyjuice represented at @DAYTONA road course this weekend by @RyanVargas_23 and @JDMotorsports01 !!! Thank you guys for allowing me to play a part. @RyanVargas_23 , let’s make that 6 car goooo!!!!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GinwjL9pqt
— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) February 17, 2021
And about two days after seriously throwing the idea of sponsorship out there — really about 36 hours, according to Kamara and Vargas — the No. 6 Chevrolet locked in a sponsor for this weekend’s road course race.
Literally! 💪🏾💪🏾
— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) February 17, 2021
