After announcing a new premier series sponsor, NASCAR has unveiled a new logo for the 2017 season.
Our roots deepen. Our ride continues. pic.twitter.com/i8pxfqUJJU
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) December 19, 2016
It's the first time NASCAR has changed its logo since 1976. The logo was designed to pay tribute to the history of NASCAR, incorporating elements of all four previous logos since the company’s inaugural season in 1948.
MORE: Check out Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s paint scheme for 2017
"Our new NASCAR mark is modern, timeless, and embraces the heritage of our sport," Jill Gregory, NASCAR's chief marketing officer, said in a release. "It was important for us to recognize our history and implement a piece of each previous mark in the new design. Our goal was to evolve the sport's visual identity to make it concise, relevant and functional, while respecting and maintaining the unique qualities of the original mark."
The announcement was made in conjunction with the news that Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be the new name of the sport's premier series beginning Jan. 1, 2017.
A new era.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) December 19, 2016
The @MonsterEnergy NASCAR Cup Series is coming in 2017: https://t.co/9L2GGvF7kE pic.twitter.com/ZEUiBpyFnP
The new logos and Cup title will begin their inaugural season in February at Daytona.