A restaurant change is taking place at 23XI Racing. McDonald's is no longer a sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series team, so Hardee's has moved in to take the opening.
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According to a Wednesday announcement, Hardee's has returned to NASCAR while also joining forces with 23XI Racing. The restaurant chain, which also owns Carl's Jr. on the west coast, will become the Official Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) of NASCAR.
Hardee's will also be a multi-race primary sponsor of 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team in 2026. The restaurant chain will also have branding on Wallace's firesuit and team equipment throughout the season while serving as an associate sponsor.
Coming in hot and fresh 🐔 🔥 !!!
We’re proud to welcome @Hardees to 23XI with @BubbaWallace and the 23 team!Excited to be a part of Hardee’s next chapter in @NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/7gYh0awVx8
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) January 21, 2026
The first race featuring the new primary partner on the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE will be Martinsville Speedway this spring. 23XI Racing did not reveal the other races on the sponsor's schedule, nor did the team reveal the scheme.
"NASCAR is built on legacy, and Hardee's has been part of some of the most iconic moments in our sport's history," Wallace said in a press release.
"To bring that history forward with 23XI is really special and we're looking forward to representing a brand that means so much to NASCAR's story. Fans know the Hardee's paint schemes of the past, and I'm excited to help create some new memories for longtime and newer fans."
The restaurant chain has a winning history in NASCAR, which includes multiple drivers. Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Alan Kulwicki, and Dale Jarrett all showcased Hardee's colors. Yarborough and Allison won multiple races with the unique scheme on their respective cars. This includes crown jewels in the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600.
Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, also showcased the brand during a Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 2008. He won while Coca-Cola and Hardee's shared primary sponsorship of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing entry.
This partnership with Hardee's continues a string of moves by 23XI Racing. The team also announced an expanded partnership with Xfinity, which includes several races on the No. 23. They then announced that Comparion Insurance Agency will take over Tyler Reddick's No. 45 Toyota for several races this season.
