NASCAR driver Josh Berry and the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team are set to debut a special paint scheme at the upcoming Brickyard 400.
This weekend, Berry’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse will feature a prominent image of WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, thanks to a partnership with Panini Trading Cards. Yes, you read that right—NASCAR meets WNBA in a mash-up that’s more surprising than a pineapple on pizza.
Caitlin Clark, the New Queen of Indianapolis Sports
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever sensation who has the whole state buzzing louder than a vuvuzela at a soccer match, will be adorning Berry’s car as NASCAR makes its grand return to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. After three years of dancing around the infield road course, NASCAR’s back on the big track, baby!
This partnership with Panini is their first primary car sponsorship of the 2024 season and their debut at the Cup Series level since 2021. It’s like Panini trading cards woke up from a three-year nap and decided to go big or go home.
Highlighting a Card from Clark’s Legendary College Days
The new paint job will showcase one of Clark’s trading cards from her jaw-dropping college basketball career at Iowa. Specifically, it’s the “Raining 3s” card from Panini’s freshly minted Caitlin Clark Collection. Imagine the car zipping by, a blur of horsepower and hoop dreams.
Rookie Rivals: Berry and Clark
Josh Berry, much like Clark, is also navigating his rookie season, and he’s doing it with the finesse of a ballerina on wheels. Berry leads the Rookie of the Year standings, and he’s not just coasting; he’s had two top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes this season. Not too shabby for a guy who’s still figuring out where the bathroom is at most tracks.
“The No. 4 team has a bunch of really smart guys putting together strategies, building fast cars, and giving me a chance to go race hard,” Berry said, sounding like he’s giving an acceptance speech at the Oscars. “We set off this year with the goal of winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award, and we are close to that.” Keep your eye on this guy; he’s got the drive to match his car.
Sunday’s race at the Brickyard will be Berry’s maiden voyage on the 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis. And no pressure, but with just five races left in the regular season, he’s eyeing a playoff spot like a hawk eyeing its next meal.
The Road Ahead for NASCAR and WNBA
After this weekend, NASCAR will take a two-week hiatus for the Paris Olympic Games. Yes, even NASCAR needs a vacation. Then, it’s back to the grind with four straight races leading into the 10-race playoffs, kicking off on September 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever have a showdown this week against the Dallas Wings before the WNBA pauses for the All-Star weekend and the Olympic break. Clark will strut her stuff in the WNBA All-Star Game, going toe-to-toe with the U.S. Olympic team in a nationally televised game on ABC this Saturday. Talk about star power!
So, there you have it—a NASCAR-WNBA crossover that’s revving up engines and hoop dreams alike. Get your popcorn ready; this weekend’s Brickyard 400 is going to be one for the ages!