Dear DePaul Faculty and Staff,
As Chicago’s university, we always seek fresh, innovative ways to tell our story and invite the world in.
On July 6, DePaul will be the
primary sponsor of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, driven by Michael McDowell, in the NASCAR Chicago Street Race right here in Grant Park. An estimated 4 million viewers nationwide, along with more than 55,000 fans expected in Grant Park on race day, will see DePaul take the national stage in a bold new way.
DePaul’s name and spirit will be front and center, featured on McDowell’s custom-designed No. 71 car, his fire suit, pit road signage, and even the Spire Motorsports crew shirts, as we reach millions watching in a powerful new way.
This opportunity may look different from how we’ve traditionally shown up in advertising, and that is precisely the point. It is about expanding our reach, increasing our relevance, and creating real opportunities for our students. National visibility like this helps open the door to future Blue Demons by strengthening awareness and interest in DePaul among prospective students and families nationwide.
I have said many times before that I view athletics as the front porch of the university, a powerful entry point that invites the world to engage with all that DePaul has to offer. This partnership enables us to showcase DePaul on a national stage while participating in a global event taking place in our own backyard. Even more exciting, this collaboration will extend into our classrooms this fall, offering our students a hands-on look at the business and science behind professional racing. It is a perfect example of how we utilize sports to enhance our visibility and create real-world, experiential learning opportunities for our students.
Building on this momentum, students in physics, sports business, and hospitality courses this fall will study the real-world mechanics of professional motorsports and connect directly with Spire industry professionals. We’ll also highlight an existing collaboration between DePaul’s School of Hospitality and Sports Business and NASCAR Chicago, showcased through the course HSB 198: A NASCAR Experience. As part of the curriculum, students play an integral role in designing and executing the newly created College Tailgate at Turn 7, a fan engagement event tailored to college students during the race.
DePaul students receive 20% off select race tickets for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race by using their @depaul.edu email address. Learn more and purchase
here.
The university community can tune in to see the No. 71 DePaul University Chevrolet ZL1 race through the streets of Chicago on July 6 at 1 p.m. CT on TNT, MRN, SiriusXM, and MAX.
Thank you for your continued support as we explore new and creative avenues for impact and visibility, both for our university and, most importantly, for the students we serve.
Go Blue Demons!
DeWayne Peevy
Vice President and Director of Athletics