As the NASCAR world continues to evolve, Tony Stewart NASCAR partnership rumors are gaining momentum with intriguing developments involving his former team members. In October 2025, a significant shift emerged as a past Stewart-Haas Racing executive now at AO Racing considers introducing a bold new presence into the world of stock car racing, potentially bringing a unique Halloween-inspired flair.
Tony Stewart, who once led Stewart-Haas Racing with Gene Haas to multiple championships and milestone victories, saw the closure of his famed organization last year. Now, eyes turn to a former Stewart-Haas Racing executive seeking to return to NASCAR on behalf of a new team with a reputation for creative livery designs and fresh ideas, hinting at a dynamic partnership on the horizon.
Former Stewart-Haas Executive Pursues a Fresh NASCAR Entry
Stewart-Haas Racing left a deep mark in NASCAR, earning two Cup Series championships and capturing 70 victories over a stretch of sixteen years. Despite their storied track record, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas shuttered the operation, leaving former employees and fans wondering about the future of their favorite racing minds.
Brian McKinley joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2020, initially serving as vice president of sales before being promoted to chief commercial officer two years later. Though his tenure at Stewart-Haas ended by 2024, McKinley transitioned into a similar role at AO Racing, an organization already popular among sports car enthusiasts for its creative dinosaur and skeleton-themed car liveries. Now, McKinley appears poised to help AO Racing make an entrance into NASCAR with an eye toward a memorable, spooky branding effort.
Highlighting McKinley’s intentions, journalist Adam Stern relayed on social media,
“.@AORacingUSA is considering entering other forms of racing in the coming years including @NASCAR and @IndyCar, according to its chief commercial officer Brian McKinley who formerly worked at Stewart-Haas.”
— Adam Stern, Journalist
Although AO Racing has yet to announce an official NASCAR entry, McKinley’s experience and connections within the industry lend weight to these statements, hinting at the possibility of a distinctive team joining the grid.
Paint Schemes, Partnerships, and the Halloween Plan
NASCAR’s tradition of highly creative paint schemes is well-known, with drivers like Tyler Reddick and Ross Chastain bringing eye-catching liveries such as the Hamburglar theme and classic winter designs to fans each season. AO Racing, familiar in the sports car world, has gained its own acclaim through memorable dinosaur- and dragon-themed artwork. This October, AO Racing ramps up the creativity even further by rolling out special black-and-white Halloween car designs — Skeleton Spike and Skeleton Rexy — set to appear at the IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans event from October 8th to 11th in 2025. The team’s unique approach aims to capture fans’ imagination and amplify audience excitement, especially with incentives like a costume-themed autograph session on October 10th.
Beyond visual flair, AO Racing stands out for business performance too. Brian McKinley noted that, on an average race weekend, the team manages to generate sales between $100,000 and $120,000, owed in large part to their memorable branding and merchandise. Of their methods, McKinley stated,
“We’ve found, I think, a secret sauce between our racing platform being successful on the track and then our cars, characters, and stories that all support something much bigger that is drawing interest all over the globe.”
— Brian McKinley, Chief Commercial Officer, AO Racing
The intersection of competitive racing and brand storytelling has helped AO Racing stand out, positioning them as a creative force ready for mainstream American motorsport spotlight.
Should a Tony Stewart NASCAR partnership with AO Racing materialize, it could offer the series unprecedented visual entertainment and marketing opportunities, blending the established NASCAR fanbase with a new wave of creative engagement strategies.
NASCAR Landscape Shifts and Opportunities for New Entrants
The timing for new entities eyeing a NASCAR entry is notable. In the midst of ongoing legal disputes and shifts in the NASCAR charter system, teams such as 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have lost their charters, continuing competition as open teams. NASCAR has acknowledged interest from unfamiliar organizations, stating that
“motorsports companies racing in INDYCAR, Xfinity, and other series”
— NASCAR Court Filing
have expressed desire to acquire a Cup Series charter. By late August, the sanctioning body revealed intentions to transfer a charter to a yet-unnamed team, sparking speculation about a changing grid.
While there is no official confirmation that AO Racing will be the recipient, McKinley’s recent remarks feed into the ongoing buzz. Notably, the legal dispute between teams and the series has highlighted possible transitions for current organizations, with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports even considering relocation to other racing disciplines like the IndyCar Series or Formula 1 if charter conditions prove unfavorable. This shifting landscape underscores the possibility for innovative teams like AO Racing to step in with fresh vision, new sponsorships, and themed events that could revitalize fan engagement.
What the Future May Hold
As NASCAR’s future charter arrangements and team lineups remain in flux, the door is open for teams known for creativity and commercial success to bring impactful changes to the series. AO Racing’s playful, yet aggressive approach to racing culture — from Halloween-themed liveries to story-driven branding — could set a new precedent if a Tony Stewart NASCAR partnership moves ahead.
If AO Racing gains entry into the series, fans, including longstanding Stewart-Haas Racing supporters, can expect a combination of competitive driving and unique visual spectacle, possibly featuring their iconic Skeleton Rexy and other themed race cars. In an era where fan connection and entertainment value matter as much as wins, this move could reshape the expectations for what a NASCAR team represents, blending sport, storytelling, and community engagement for a new chapter in stock car racing history.
.@AORacingUSA is considering entering other forms of racing in the coming years including @NASCAR and @IndyCar, according to its chief commercial officer Brian McKinley who formerly worked at Stewart-Haas. https://t.co/RmsoeRMx1i
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 2, 2025
