# Motorsport-Focused Restaurant Partnerships Chili's Grill & Bar Continues Spire Motorsports Support By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-01-14 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spire-motorsports References: [spire-motorsports](https://www.spire-motorsports.com/2026/01/13/spire-motorsports-chilis-grill-and-bar-partnership-renewal-77-carson-hocevar-ride-the-dente-2026/)  Chili's Grill & Bar has renewed and expanded its collaborative agreement with Spire Motorsports. This announcement indicates that the restaurant will continue to sponsor the "No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 driven by rising NASCAR Cup Series star Carson Hocevar." The collaboration between Chili's Grill & Bar and Spire Motorsports is characterized by the phrase 'Ride the 'Dente.' The restaurant chain's identity is integrated into the motorsport environment through vehicle livery — including "primary placement on Hocevar's dirt late model and the High Limit Racing sprint car driven by fellow Spire Ascent driver Gio Scelzi," as well as driver apparel, and associated promotional activities. At the Chili Bowl Nationals, for example, Chili's will be the "pre- and post-race show title sponsor for FloRacing's coverage throughout the event." Image Credit: Spire Motorsports ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 27% | Freshness: 60% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Brand-driven Motorsport Sponsorships:** Brands are increasingly leveraging motorsport sponsorships to enhance visibility through vehicle branding and apparel. - **Integrated Restaurant Partnerships:** Restaurants like Chili's are forming strategic collaborations with sports entities to create a seamless integration across various marketing platforms. - **Experiential Sports Marketing:** Sponsors are incorporating experiential elements into races, using pre- and post-event shows as a platform for brand engagement. ### Who This Affects Most - **Hospitality & Food Service:** The hospitality industry is finding new growth opportunities by entering into marketing partnerships with motorsport teams. - **Automotive & Motorsports:** Motorsport teams are attracting partnerships with non-automotive brands, expanding their revenue streams and market reach. - **Media & Broadcasting:** Media companies covering racing events are increasingly collaborating with sponsors for co-branded content creation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Fan Engagement Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mclaren-racing-and-mastercard.md) - [Beverage Brand-Supported Racing Teams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mercedesamg-petronas-formula-one.md) - [Branded Campus Pizza Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-caesars-and-michigan-state-university.md) - [Celebrity Chef Retailer Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/guy-fieris-flavortown-and-circle-k.md) - [Chili Spiced Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skyline-spice-ice-cream.md) - [Racing-Themed Branded Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mgm-resorts-international.md) - [Branded Sauce Tex-Mex Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taco-bell-and-franks-redhot.md) - [Adaptive Restaurant Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motorino.md) - [Racing-Focused Italian Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spellegrinos.md)