LAS VEGAS — Boxing legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather officially announced his entry into NASCAR Racing.
Mayweather’s The Money Pit Racing will make its NASCAR Cup Series debut with Kaz Grala driving the No. 50 Pit Viper Chevrolet during Speedweek at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
“I love fast cars and I love to compete. I know NASCAR will not be easy, but anything easy isn’t worth doing to me,” Mayweather exclaimed. “With that being said, this move into auto racing seems to be a perfect fit for the Mayweather brand.”
The Pit Viper sunglass brand will be the team’s primary sponsor as it attempts to qualify for the 64th running of the Great American Race with an ECR engine under the car’s hood. Grala will be the team’s driver for select races during the 2022 season.
The 23-year-old driver has finished in the top-10 in half of his NASCAR Cup Series races to date, including his debut when he drove through the field to an impressive seventh-place finish on the Daytona Road Course.
“It’s an honor to be behind the wheel for Floyd Mayweather’s entrance into NASCAR. It’s a really exciting time in our sport as it globalizes and reaches new audiences,” said Grala. “I know Floyd is here to win, and I absolutely feel that everyone involved in this program is capable of making that happen. We know we will need some time to grow together as a new organization, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of building this team from the ground up.”
Tony Eury Jr., longtime crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. among others, will serve as crew chief for the team that is co-owned by William Auchmoody, who is also the team’s general manager.
“This deal has been a long time coming and we are finally at the starting line,” said Auchmoody. “Every time we thought we would be able to hit the track, something happened, including a global pandemic. One thing I have learned from Floyd Mayweather is that sometimes your best offense is a great defense and now we are here going to our first race at this year’s Daytona 500. We are very excited to be racing.”
StarCom Racing’s Michael and Matt Kohler and Bill Woehlemann also have a vested interest in the team.