The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to the Pacific Northwest for a road course race this weekend. In a fitting turn of events, an Oregon-based university will take over one of the entries.
Sam Hunt Racing announced on Monday that the Oregon State Beavers will serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra during the race at Portland International Raceway. Thompson Pipe Group will continue to serve as a co-primary sponsor while ditching its traditional blue for the black associated with Oregon State.
Are you ready for it #BeaverNation? @deanthompsonr will wheel the No. 26 Thompson Pipe Group X Oregon State University GR Supra this weekend at @Race_Portland #LetsHunt | #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/5Ja3fWDImN
— Sam Hunt Racing (@Team_SHR26) August 25, 2025
Dean Thompson will showcase the Corvallis-based team's colors and logo as he makes the 25th start of his rookie season. This will mark his sixth start on a course featuring left and right turns. His average finish on road courses this season is 15.0, and his best finish was 12th in Mexico City.
This partnership between the Beavers and Sam Hunt Racing takes place the same week that the football team kicks off its season.
The PAC-12 team will host the California Golden Bears at Reser Stadium in Corvallis on Aug. 30. This game will take place under the lights (7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET) roughly 90 miles south of where Thompson and the other Xfinity Series drivers will race.
ESPN will provide coverage for the football game. CW, which airs many Oregon State games, will air the Xfinity event.
This crossover is not the first for NASCAR and football. Multiple teams have highlighted universities across the United States. Texas A&M, in particular, sponsored Jeff Gordon in 2014, Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024, and Haas Factory Team this season.
Syracuse joined forces with NY Racing Team this season. The university sponsored JJ Yeley as he competed at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 9-10.
Of course, the most prolific partnership between a NASCAR team and a university features Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron. Liberty University has served as his primary partner across multiple series.
The two-time Daytona 500 champion has won numerous races with Liberty as his primary sponsor. This includes a Late Model race in 2015, four ARCA East races in 2015, seven Truck Series races in 2016, two Xfinity Series races in 2017, and three Cup Series races between 2020-23.