Los Angeles Kings’ ECHL affiliate to sponsor NASCAR Cup Series team
The connection between hockey and auto racing will be on display in one of the biggest events of the season.
On Wednesday, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, announced they will be one of the featured sponsors on NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Along with Bon Secours, the Swamp Rabbits’ logo will be on the paint scheme for when NASCAR rolls through Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1 for the Cook Out Southern 500.
The Swamp Rabbits and @BonSecours will feature on the No. 77 @SpireMotorsport's Chevrolet, piloted by @CarsonHocevar, for @NASCAR 's Cook Out Southern 500 at @TooToughToTame on September 1st!
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It is the fifth year in a row that the Swamp Rabbits will be on the hood of a NASCAR Cup Series machine at Darlington. The South Carolina-based hockey franchise sponsored Justin Haley’s No. 77 at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the series’ postseason in 2023. Greenville’s name has been featured at the Charlotte ROVAL three times, with the team making their “NASCAR debut” at Darlington in May 2020.
“We’re thrilled to continue the synergies between Spire Motorsports, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Bon Secours with this exciting partnership for the NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Darlington,” president of Spire Holdings, Todd Mackin, said in a release. “Bon Secours has been a key partner of the Swamp Rabbits for many years and it’s always gratifying when we can integrate that program with the race team.”
It makes sense that the Swamp Rabbits would be featured on a car driven by Hocevar. The 21-year-old was born and raised in Portage, Michigan, right down the road from the Kalamazoo Wings. While he never pursued the sport himself, Hocevar is reportedly a big hockey fan. Hocevar and fellow Spire teammate Corey Lajoie appeared at the Swamp Rabbit’s “NASCAR Night” during the 2023-24 season.
The connection between the Swamp Rabbits and NASCAR goes back to the team’s parent company, Spire Holdings. The company owns many assets, including one of the Swamp Rabbits’ Eastern Conference rivals, Trois-Rivières Lions. Spire purchased the Montreal Canadiens’ secondary affiliate from Deacon Sports & Entertainment back in April.
Spire inserted its racing passion into its new hockey franchise almost immediately. The Lions teamed up with Wight Motorsports to sponsor NASCAR Canada Series driver Raphael Lessard at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières earlier this month.