Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc. Joins Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Continuing an impressive season highlighted by an expanding lineup of new brands and relationships, Ryan Ellis and Young’s Motorsports will unveil another exciting NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series partnership when the series returns to Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway for the Focused Health 302 on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc., a specialty frozen food manufacturer creating products for well-being, will make its NASCAR partnership debut by supporting Ellis and the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet while introducing its broad portfolio of frozen food products to NASCAR’s passionate national fan base.

Ajinomoto is guided by its purpose of making everyday eating a happy experience.

Combining culinary craftsmanship with science-backed insights, the company develops flavorful, satisfying foods that bring joy, connection and peace of mind.

Ajinomoto Foods North America’s consumer brand portfolio includes Ajinomoto®, José Olé®, Ling Ling® and Tai Pei®, with products available at major retailers throughout the United States.

The collaboration marks another milestone in a banner season of partnership growth for Ellis and Young’s Motorsports.

Together, the driver and organization have successfully introduced an impressive number of new brands to NASCAR, creating valuable connections between those companies and one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in sports.

Ajinomoto branding will be featured aboard Ellis’ No. 02 Chevrolet throughout the race weekend, giving the company a national platform to showcase its purpose, products and family of recognizable consumer brands.

“Welcoming Ajinomoto Foods North America to our program is something I’m incredibly proud of,” said Ellis.

“We have been fortunate to introduce so many new companies to NASCAR this season, and every partnership gives us another opportunity to demonstrate the tremendous value, passion and loyalty surrounding this sport.

“Ajinomoto Foods North America has an incredible story and a family of brands that many people already know and enjoy. Food has a special ability to bring people together, and that connection fits naturally with the strong sense of family and community found throughout NASCAR.

“I’m looking forward to representing their employees, customers and brands with pride throughout the race weekend.”

For Ajinomoto, the collaboration provides an engaging national platform to introduce its purpose and portfolio of products to the NASCAR community.

The partnership also creates a natural connection between the company’s belief in bringing people together through food and the shared experiences, traditions and sense of community that define NASCAR race weekends.

“We’re excited to partner with Ryan as we make our first foray into NASCAR and introduce Ajinomoto Foods North America to a new audience,” said Eugene Imm, SVP, Head of Strategic Branding & Marketing at Ajinomoto Foods North America. “What made Ryan such a natural partner is that he already knows and appreciates our products, and understands the quality, authenticity and craftsmanship that go into everything we make. That shared appreciation, along with our commitment to bringing well-being to more communities, makes this partnership a great fit for us.”

With the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series calendar winding down toward its early-November finale, Ellis will make his 10th series start at the popular 1.5-mile oval located in the heart of Sin City.

In nine previous appearances at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Ashburn, Va., native earned a track-best 13th-place finish during his second series start at the facility in 2023.

Encouraged by a string of strong on-track performances, Ellis and Young’s Motorsports will look to carry their momentum into Las Vegas and add another top-10 result to their season total.

The upswing has strengthened the organization’s confidence heading into the closing races. Team principal Tyler Young believes the improved results reflect the steady development of the No. 02 Chevrolet program and the collective commitment throughout Young’s Motorsports.

“Ryan and our No. 02 team have continued to make meaningful gains, and the recent performances are beginning to reflect the work everyone has been putting into this program,” said Young. “Las Vegas is always challenging, but we believe it is another track where we can continue building momentum.

“If we execute throughout the weekend, give Ryan a Chevrolet he can race with and stay disciplined from start to finish, there is no reason we cannot contend for another strong finish.

“We are also incredibly proud to welcome Ajinomoto to our team and the NASCAR community. We appreciate their confidence in Ryan and Young’s Motorsports, and our goal is to provide them with a successful and memorable first experience in the sport.”

For more on Ryan Ellis, please visit ryanellisracing.com, like him on Facebook (Ryan Ellis), and follow him on Instagram (@ryanellisracing), TikTok (@ryanellisracing), and X | Twitter (@ryanellisracing).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X | Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

The Focused Health 302 (201 laps | 301.5 miles) is the 28th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. Practice will occur on Sat., Oct. 3, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Qualifying will begin immediately after, at 12:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag later in the day, shortly after 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. ET), with live coverage on The CW Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (PT).