It’s not the first sponsor to drop.
Great Clips will become the second sponsorship to not renew with Kasey Kahne after the 2017 season. Farmer’s Insurance initially decided to split from Kahne and forgo its 12 race 2018 sponsorship.
Kahne, who has not won a race since August 2014 is on a 95-race winless streak that has not sat well with sponsors or Hendrick Motorsports.
Kahne currently sits at 20th in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points standings, and 60 points behind the final playoff spot. According to Racing Reference, through 12 races, Kahne already has two top-five finishes and lead 7 laps — after not leading any in 2016.
“We have enjoyed our partnership with Hendrick Motorsports over the last five years,” said Great Clips president Steve Hockett. “Kasey and the entire team have been excellent ambassadors of our brand.”
In September, Great Clips, who joined Hendrick in 2012 signed a two-year extension through 2018 with the №5 team. They issued that a change in marketing strategies is the cause for the drop after the season, per Yahoo Sports. Great Clips has been the primary sponsor for 10 races each season since 2014.
“These racing programs provided us with a platform to expand our brand. From the early days as Kasey’s first full-time sponsor in 2003, he has represented us well on and off the track,” added Hockett.
Great Clips is leaving NASCAR, but they are venturing to remain in other sports in the future with the platform exploration. They are currently trying to branch into college football and basketball, as well as broadening itself into digital platforms for future customers.
The №5 team will run Great Clips as its primary sponsor this weekend in the AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Raceway on Sunday, as well as the season finale at Homestead.
Kahne is looking to score his first career win at Dover this weekend, at 1:15 p.m. ET on FS1.
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