Most people know Chris Stapleton as a country singer. But now his own Traveller Whiskey brand is teaming up with a top NASCAR team for the 2026 Daytona 500, the biggest stock car race of the year. This is not just a music star “slapping a logo” on a car.
Behind the wheel again is Justin Allgaier, the 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, six-time Most Popular Driver, and JRM’s all-time leader in wins and top-10s. This is a serious shot at “The Great American Race,” backed by one of the most respected teams in the garage.
Traveller Whiskey is his own award-winning brand, built blend by blend with Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. The No. 40 is a direct nod to Blend No. 40, turning his taste for craft whiskey into a rolling billboard at 200 mph.
From Super Bowl anthems to Daytona horsepower, Chris Stapleton is quietly building an empire that touches music, racing, and spirits all at once.
Inside JRM’s Daytona 500 Debut: Kelley & Dale Jr. React To Partnering with Chris Stapleton
Before the No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet ever hit the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat down with Chris Stapleton and Justin Allgaier to talk through the dream. They describe waiting for the perfect time to jump into the Daytona 500, how Traveller Whiskey and NASCAR fans felt like a natural match, and how involved Stapleton was in the car’s design.
Chris Stapleton On Partnering With JRM, Song Writing Secrets, and How Long He Plans To Tour
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller were almost in tears talking about Justin Allgaier “driving his butt off” to race the No. 40 in. That emotional release, that sense of a dream coming true, is the exact moment that turned one bold idea into the 2026 “encore” you just read about.