The Tacky, Unrefined History of Hooters in Sports

Save 10% at Royal Retros when using the promo code: TOUCHBACK
Shop Royal Retros Here: www.503-sports.com/discount/T...
Like us on Facebook: / touchbackthe
Follow on X: / touchbackthe
If you like Hooters. That’s cool. If you think it is below average Buffalo Wings served in an issue of FHM come to life, that’s cool, too. What no one can deny is the impact the chain has had on sports as a whole and, in particular, sponsorship. College Football, golf, and auto racing. The brand has popped up in some odd places across the sports world.
That is what makes the news that Hendrick Motorsports has dropped Hooters as a sponsor surprising. The brand has been somewhat synonymous with sports for more than 30 years now. With Hooters seemingly unable to pay their advertising commitments, this feels like the end of an era.
Hooters' first real foray into sports was NASCAR, a partnership that was absolutely perfect. That being said, it came together as more of an accident than anything else. Hooters of America was located in Atlanta and Atlanta Motor Speedway was its home track.
In 1991, the wings dispensary sponsored Mark Stahl in the #82 car. Hooters wasn’t getting much bang for the buck since Stahl didn’t qualify for any of the previous three races. Atlanta was the fourth of the schedule, and when Stahl again didn’t make the field, executives decided to take action.
They sounded out Alan Kulwicki, who was racing without a sponsor because Junior Johnson boxed him out of a deal with Maxwell House Coffee. Hooters got their name on his Ford Thunderbird for the Atlanta race where he finished eighth. The two sides struck a longer-term partnership in the aftermath of the race.
Eventually, Hooters would expand to arena football, golf, and a sponsorship with the Hula Bowl that saved the game in the 1990s.
About The Touchback
#takeitouttothe25
The Touchback is the world's best sports and culture website…or something like that. You'll either really like it or really hate it. But it's worth reading either way.

[@westholmes2001]

Correction: At the 2:15 mark, it is mentioned that John Riggins went to the Hooters Restaurant while Super Bowl 9 (IX) was going on in Tampa. However, Hooters started their restaurant in 1983 which would be eight years prior to Super Bowl IX. Also, Super Bowl 9 (IX) was in New Orleans at Tulane Stadium, which by the 1980’s, was no more. Lastly, Washington was in Tampa for Super Bowl XVIII (18) getting ready to play the Los Angeles Raiders when Riggins visited Hooters. His visit didn’t help Washington as they were trounced by the Raiders, 38-9.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Hooters had their own licensed videogame or two as well, around the time they sponsored the Hooters Pro Cup. Not a women's fashion accessory no, but...what is now the CARS Tour, yes that one, was sponsored by Hooters as well. EDIT: Nottingham, why am I not shocked, but then again I doubt the teenage boys really thought about it though and agreed, or maybe the team told them you are doing this no matter what. Didn't know we even had Hooters here, that's how well their marketing works. We do have Wendys though, amusingly enough which is somehow better known than Hooters, go figure

[@thetouchback]

Hooters released two very different racing games in 2002, one a CARS racing sim and the other a cheap PS1 arcade title, and both were absolutely awful.

[@ElliottFan_9]

So they would buy the cup assets to junior Johnson in 96 they turned around and sold them before the deal went public. Also 2002-2003 they sponsored Brett Bodine when the brooks family said it was damaging to their image how he performed and pulled sponsorship after Michigan 2003. 2007 they returned with a energy drink on a truck for a season the brad Keselowski drove before return to nascar in 2013 with Nelson piquet at a one off in chicagos xfinity race. Also worth mentioning they won the final race they had been a primary on at Texas in the spring.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Not just that, but as per Brock Beard's excellent series on Davey. Hooters didn't renew their deal because someone else was in the car, not Loy Allen, who Hooters were wanting in the car. To add to this...Robert Brooks said Bill Elliott was, quote. not a Hooters kind of guy, quote. Somehow the chain survived without the state of Georgia coming together to burn down every last establishment for slandering Awesome Bill. Kulwicki gave them exposure and a title, his run in 92 is amazing. Loy Allen gave them what, one pole and a mediocre run. I'd say they got the worse end of the deal really, Loy Allen was hyped up to be the next big thing, and didn't exactly flop, but....he didn't set the world on fire either. Compare that to Texaco who stayed with RYR for nine more years after Davey's death until the 28 team closed, as well as branching out to other series with CART, F1,et al and putting their logo and name all over the place though

[@matthewwelsh294]

After the Miami Hooters became the Florida Bobcats, their QB was Steve McNair brother, Fred McNair

[@nascar_vault]

My favorite sports channel on KZbin talking about my favorite sport, NASCAR, love to see it

[@thetouchback]

I like NASCAR. One day, if I can ever stomach it, I will make a video on my enduring disappointment with Scott Speed.

[@georgeblangfordjr.1771]

Hey dude Atlanta did not get no Arena Football League team until 2002 when they got the first Nashville Kats team and turned them to the Georgia Force and went to Arena Bowl 19 in Las Vegas and lost to the Colorado Crush

[@thetouchback]

That is true. On the screen when I say that, there is a correction that says Orlando.

[@RoseCityRebel]

Was at the Niagara River Lions game last night to find out Hooters sponsors them now😂

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Charlotte Bobcats playoff shirt!

[@JD-iu6rv]

Nice Bobcats playoffs shirt! It was rare to see them in the playoffs

[@matthewwelsh294]

Funny enough, the Miami Hooters became the Florida Bobcats, who never made it to the playoffs. However, their QB was Fred McNair, Air McNair's older brother

[@whalesequence]

Wow, never thought I'd see that side of Carson Palmer😅

[@matthewwelsh294]

And Hooters used to have their own airline lol

[@georgeblangfordjr.1771]

Good thing there's no minor league hockey team call the Hooters