Microsoft (MSFT) Signs Dale Earnhardt Jr. As Spokesman As Part Of Windows 10 NASCAR Deal

Microsoft is joining a multi-year partnership with NASCAR to adopt Windows 10 and the Azure cloud computing platform. The company will employ two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. as spokesman, and place the Windows 10 logo on Earnhardt’s car.

In a press release, NASCAR said the logo will appear on Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevrolet SS at Sonoma Raceway in California on June 28 and Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania on Aug. 2. Microsoft previously collaborated with NASCAR to develop a mobile inspection application in 2014, which reduced pre-race car inspection times by nearly half.

NASCAR, along with Hendrick Motorsports, will be using the Azure platform and upgrading to Windows 10 as part of the partnership. “As we look to the future, we’re excited at the prospect of developing new applications and leveraging Windows 10 and Microsoft Azure services that will make our sport more competitive, exciting and accessible to fans,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR's chief marketing officer.

“The Windows mobile inspection application we launched last year is a great example of how innovative solutions can push boundaries and make the racing experience even better,” said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president, developer experience and evangelism, at Microsoft. “We’re looking forward to the next solutions that we can deploy with both NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports to push each of our organizations forward.”