Contender returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead-Miami Speedway (above, during a Trans Am event) may not know who the final four drivers are that will be competing in the new Chase For The Sprint Cup, but there is one Contender who will be returning to Victory Lane.

For the 4th consecutive year, Homestead-Miami Speedway is giving a Homestead-based Contender Boat to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner. Marking the fourth boat given to a race winner, Contender and Homestead-Miami Speedway have renewed a partnership guaranteeing the final race winner a custom boat through 2018.

“We are thrilled to partner with Contender boats to create another iconic and uniquely South Florida prize for the Ford EcoBoost 400 race winner,” Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer said. “It’s great that we can give away a boat from one of the world’s foremost manufacturers that was built from the ground up just yards away from the racetrack at Contender’s headquarters in Homestead. We value our partnership with our neighbor company and are excited to be awarding this prize at the season culminating race in November for the next several years.”

In a Sunshine State surrounded by water on three sides, it only seems appropriate that Homestead-Miami Speedway would give race winners a need for speed that they can only get out on the open water in a Contender boat. Florida is known as the “Fishing Capital of the World,” with prominent saltwater fishing in the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Gulf of Mexico. South Florida residents are also exposed to some of the best freshwater fishing in the Everglades – all in our backyard.

Located in the Speedway’s backyard is the Homestead-based Contender boat company. Contender has crafted more than 6,000 custom boats in the company’s 30 year life span. All boats have components manufactured in-house including fabrication, carpentry, electrical and upholstery. The Ford EcoBoost 400 race winner’s boat will have a custom wrap as well as Homestead-Miami Speedway stitching on the upholstery. All 43 drivers in the Ford EcoBoost 400 will have a chance to win the prize boat in November.

Beginning in 2011, previous winners of the Contender boat include Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and Denny Hamlin. The marine vessel boasts a 250 horsepower Yamaha outboard, and a trailer to tow the boat, exceeds a value of $130,000.

“We are very excited about continuing our partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway. Since partnering with them in 2010, there seems to be a growing excitement amongst the drivers and fans about the Contender prize boat,” Contender Boats Director of Marketing Les Stewart, Jr. said. “We are happy that the boat is seen not only as a unique trophy for winning the Ford EcoBoost 400, but a motivator for the drivers and their teams to come to Homestead and win. Not only do we see the champion crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the fans also get to see the winner of the race go home with a brand new Contender boat! It really separates it from any of the other races throughout the year. In South Florida, fishing and boating is a way of life; and we really enjoy giving the race winner a piece of Florida culture to take home, rewarding them for victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway every time they take it out on the water.”

Homestead-Miami Speedway