Courtesy Xlear
In this undated photo, Devon Rouse poses with his race car decked out in Xlear and Spry logos.
American Fork-based Xlear will sponsor Devon Rouse, the second openly gay NASCAR driver in the sport’s history, as he prepares to race on his home turf.
Although the 23-year-old Rouse is still up-and-coming within the NASCAR space, he began kart racing at just 3 years old. On Saturday, he will drive car No. 43 at the Camping World Truck Series race in Knoxville, Iowa, which he considers his home track.
“I’m excited to partner with a great sponsor like Xlear,” Rouse said in a press release. “Their support greatly enables our great team to do great things on and off the track.”
According to Nathan Jones, CEO of Xlear, his partnership with Rouse happened rather organically, based on their mutual goals of promoting happiness and health. Rouse has been outspoken on mental health issues in the past and has a self-proclaimed mission to help others. The two met when Rouse shot a video at Jones’ house, and they got to talking over a game of pool.
“He just seemed like a very nice guy,” Jones said. “We were sitting there and he was explaining how NASCAR works, and I just said, ‘Hey, you know if you ever need some sponsorships every now and then … let me know.’”
Xlear, which produces xylitol-based hygiene and wellness products, has sponsored several sports teams and athletic events in the past, but never a NASCAR driver.
“We’ve never really done anything with NASCAR,” Jones said. “Most of the stuff we’ve done before have all been participant sports.”
According to Jones, the choice to sponsor Rouse wasn’t politically motivated. Rather, he just wanted to support the young driver as he advances in his NASCAR career. While other CEOs like to talk about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, he prefers to walk the walk.
“We’ve always hired people of different ethnic backgrounds. We don’t care what your sexual orientation is; if you do the job, we’ll hire you,” he said. “We keep flags up of all of the countries that people come from that work here.”
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