WILMINGTON, Mass. () – UniFirst Corporation, in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, celebrated NASCAR driver Chase Elliott’s first-place finish while driving the No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at the All-Star Race on July 15 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. Elliott earned the $1 million grand prize for his All-Star Race win—a victory he now shares with his father Bill Elliott who earned it back in 1986.
UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in providing customized work uniform programs, corporate attire, and facility service products, is serving as the primary sponsor of the No. 9 team for select races during the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, including the popular All-Star Race. UniFirst is the Official Workwear Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, supplying work clothing and uniforms to the team, as well as to its sister company, Hendrick Automotive Group, the largest privately held retail automotive organization in the United States.
Elliott began the race in the 13th position but didn’t take long to move toward the front of the pack. After finishing Stage 1 in third place, Elliott jumped into first place on Lap 63, a position he held for the remainder of Stage 2. After reclaiming first place on Lap 110, Elliott never looked back, retaining the lead position en route to the checkered flag.
The All-Star Race was originally scheduled to take place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which had been the event’s home for more than three decades. The only other All-Star Race that wasn’t held in Charlotte was in 1986, when the event was switched to Atlanta Motor Speedway. Coincidently, Elliott’s father, Bill Elliott, won that race, and Chase Elliott’s win meant the pair became the second father-son duo to earn all-star victories. Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were the first.
“Just a special night,” Elliott said. “A special event. Any race is hard to win, but this is a special race to win as it locks you into the All-Star Race for life. Winning this race means a lot to me personally, as well. Just a big thanks to UniFirst for everything they do for me and the team. Really cool to get our first win together.”
The UniFirst Chevrolet made its official debut on March 8 at the Phoenix Raceway, with Elliott starting from the pole position and leading 93 laps toward a top-10 finish.
Following a standout 2019 season that saw him earn his fourth-straight NASCAR playoff appearance and his second-straight NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver award, the 24-year-old native of Dawsonville, Georgia, has carried over that success to the 2020 campaign. He currently leads all drivers in stage wins (five), has garnered seven top-five finishes, and has led a total of 451 laps. Elliott currently has 575 points, placing him fourth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.
UniFirst’s final race of the season will be held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. EST, televised on NBC Sports Network.
About UniFirst
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, as well as the delivery of facility service programs. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also provides first aid and safety products, and manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products; and with 260 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 14,000-plus employee Team Partners, the company outfits nearly 2 million workers each business day. For more information, contact UniFirst at 888.879.2169 or visit UniFirst.com.
About Hendrick Motorsports
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 258 points-paying race victories and a record 12 car owner championships in the premier NASCAR Cup Series. The organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Cup circuit with drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Contact:
Donna Kish
Communications Supervisor
UniFirst Corporation
68 Jonspin Rd.
Wilmington, MA 01887
978.527.3871
Donna_Kish@unifirst.com
