WNBA star Alyssa Thomas will appear on the hood of Ryan Preece’s NASCAR Cup car in a bold cross-sport collab debuting at Dover and Indy
20:22 ET, 19 Jul 2025Updated 20:22 ET, 19 Jul 2025
Alyssa Thomas is partnering with Ryan Preece to create a new NASCAR paint job(Image: Getty)
On Sunday, Phoenix Mercury superstar Alyssa Thomas — known as “The Engine” for her relentless play — will have her face and nickname emblazoned on the hood of RFK Racing’s No. 60 Castrol Ford, driven by Ryan Preece for Sunday’s Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Preece made headlines in 2023 after a miraculous escape despite his car flipping more than ten times.
The collaboration also extends to the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway the following weekend. This one-of-a-kind tribute stems from a joint effort between Castrol, RFK Racing, and Thomas herself, aiming to “bridge worlds” between women’s basketball and a traditionally male-dominated motorsport.
The eye-catching livery features a basketball-textured base, Roman numeral XV for her all-time triple-double record, a crown-topped infinity symbol, purple chrome No. 60 decals, and her signature — an homage to her WNBA legacy. It comes as Thomas’ fiancee DeWanna Bonner recently joined the Mercury after a month-long stand with Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever.
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Thomas, a six-time All-Star and current MVP contender averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 9.6 assists with the Mercury, expressed pride in contributing her likeness and legacy to a race car — remarking that “not many people can say that they designed a car and have their face on it.”
Preece echoed the sentiment, saying her “Engine” mentality — “pushing limits and delivering under pressure” — perfectly mirrors his approach on the track.
For RFK Racing — a powerhouse team co-owned by Jack Roush, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group — the partnership is also a marketing milestone, reinforcing ties with Castrol, their official motor oil partner, while showcasing innovation beyond the track.
The timing couldn’t be better. The Dover race kicks off All-Star weekend, coinciding with Thomas’s participation in the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis.
Her move from the Connecticut Sun — where she spent 11 seasons — to the Phoenix Mercury this year has sparked a career resurgence, and now, this helmet-to-hood tribute amplifies her growing cultural impact.
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Meanwhile, Castrol executives emphasized the campaign’s aim to unite high-performance sports driven by perseverance and brand excellence.
By placing Thomas’s image front and center on a NASCAR Cup Series car, this campaign spotlights her as a symbol of elite athleticism and cross-sport appeal.
With TV ratings and attendance in the WNBA continuing to rise, this bold collaboration enters the cultural conversation in sports.
On Sunday at Dover and again at Indianapolis next weekend, all eyes will be on Thomas — not in a jersey, but on the hood — solidifying her status as a female athlete whose influence stretches far beyond the basketball court.