Rick Ware Racing will roll into the Route 66 NHRA Nationals carrying more than another sponsor logo on the side of a race car. The organization announced this week a new partnership with Museum of the Bible, placing the museum’s branding on Clay Millican’s Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster at Route 66 Raceway.
The agreement also includes activation in another motorsports series this weekend, but the centerpiece for drag racing fans will be Millican’s nitro-burning machine competing at one of NHRA’s most historic facilities. In a sport where sponsors often chase attention through noise and spectacle, this deal leans heavily into identity and message.
For team owner Rick Ware, the partnership carries personal significance beyond marketing impressions or hospitality opportunities. Ware said the alliance reflects values his family has supported for years.
“Our motorsports platform gives us an opportunity to reach a lot of people, and partnering with Museum of the Bible allows us to share something that’s important to our family – our faith,” Ware said. “Museum of the Bible does an incredible job of making history engaging and accessible, and if we can help introduce it to a younger audience and encourage people to experience it for themselves, that’s meaningful to us.”
The move gives Museum of the Bible exposure inside NHRA’s fan base, one known for direct sponsor loyalty and unusually close access between racers and spectators. Unlike stick-and-ball sports where sponsorships often fade into the background, drag racing fans tend to know exactly who supports their favorite teams.
That visibility becomes even more important with a driver like Clay Millican attached to the effort. Millican remains one of the most recognized personalities in Top Fuel, with a grassroots approach that has made him popular from the midway to the staging lanes.
Museum of the Bible opened in Washington, D.C., in 2017 and markets itself as an educational and cultural experience rather than a denominational attraction. The facility encompasses more than 430,000 square feet and blends historical artifacts, technology and interactive exhibits centered on the Bible’s influence on world history and culture.
“Museum of the Bible exists to invite people to explore the Bible and its contributions to history, culture and the world around us,” said Dr. Aaron Ross. “Partnering with Rick Ware Racing helps us connect with a broad audience and raises awareness among people who may have never considered visiting. We want younger generations to see that learning about the Bible’s impact on history and culture can be both meaningful and engaging.”
The partnership also reflects how NHRA sponsorships continue evolving. Teams increasingly seek alliances built around shared philosophy and long-term storytelling instead of simple logo placement for one race weekend.
Rick Ware Racing plans to expand the relationship beyond Joliet through merchandise and collectible programs tied to the effort. According to Ware, proceeds from die-cast replicas and apparel connected to the partnership will help support worldwide distribution of the Book of John.
Soon, Museum of the Bible will also add a full-size race vehicle to its collection through a Rick Ware Racing showcar program. The addition gives the museum another bridge into motorsports culture while exposing drag racing audiences to an institution many may never have considered visiting.
“Sometimes people hear ‘museum’ and think it’s something traditional or static, but Museum of the Bible is incredibly interactive and engaging,” Ross added. “Working with Rick Ware Racing helps us reach people who may not know what we offer and hopefully sparks interest in coming to see it for themselves.”
Ware said the organization wanted the partnership tied to something larger than race-day branding. In an era where sponsorships often disappear as quickly as they arrive, he believes programs with a deeper mission have a better chance to resonate.
“We wanted this partnership to go beyond what people see on the racetrack,” Ware said. “Our family is committed to producing die-cast replicas of the Museum of the Bible car and apparel tied to this program, with proceeds helping Museum of the Bible distribute Books of John to people around the world, free of charge. It’s a way for us to use racing to support something that can have a lasting impact.”
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