01LPGA와 나스카의 특별한 컬래버레이션… 골프 테마 경주차 스피드웨이 달린다
세계골프전당 헌액자 아니카 소렌스탐의 이름을 걸고 열리는 LPGA 투어 대회 '디 애니카 드라이븐 바이 게인브릿지 프리젠티드 바이 펠리컨(이하 디 애니카)'이 모터스포츠 무대와 만난다. 오는 11월 8일 미국 플로리다주 홈스테드-마이애미 스피드웨이에서 개최되는 2026 나스카(NASCAR) 컵 시리즈 챔피언십 레이스에서 스파이어 모터스포츠 드라이버 마이클 맥도웰의 71번 셰보레 카마로 ZL1 경주차가 '디 애니카' 테마로 단장한 특별한 리버리를 착용하고 트랙을 달린다.
여성 스포츠의 가치를 한층 끌어올리기 위해 메인 스폰서인 게인브릿지(Gainbridge)와 그룹 1001의 주도로 기획된 이번 협업은 디자인부터 독특함을 자랑한다. 맥도웰 경주차의 덱리드(트렁크 상단)에는 LPGA 투어 시즌 최종전인 CME 그룹 투어 챔피언십 출전권을 다투는 'CME 글로브 레이스' 상위권 선수들의 명단이 기재된다. 또한 맥도웰은 대회 당일 골프 캐디 비브와 골프 바지에서 영감을 얻은 특제 레이스 슈트를 착용하고 출전할 예정이다.
나스카 시즌 최종전을 마친 뒤 5남매의 아버지이기도 한 맥도웰은 플로리다주 벨에어의 펠리컨 골프클럽으로 이동한다. 맥도웰은 11월 11일 열리는 '디 애니카' 공식 프로암 대회에서 셀러브리티 캐디로 직접 참여해 LPGA 투어 선수들과 호흡을 맞출 계획이다. 총상금 325만 달러가 걸린 '디 애니카'는 메이저 대회를 제외하면 LPGA 투어 최대 규모의 대회 중 하나로, 대회 수익금은 어린 선수들을 육성하는 애니카 재단에 기부된다.
02Original (English) — LPGA
Spire Motorsports Reveals Special Livery for No. 71 THE ANNIKA Chevrolet ZL1
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 16, 2026) – As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the 2026 season finale, World Golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sörenstam and her namesake LPGA Tour event, The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican (The ANNIKA), is teaming up with Gainbridge℠, driver Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports to unveil a unique livery for McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the Nov. 8 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.
The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Tampa Bay’s signature LPGA Tour event, takes place the following week, Nov. 9-15 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla.
McDowell, a two-time Cup Series race winner, will race the No. 71 The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 when NASCAR’S premier division returns to the popular mile-and-a-half South Florida oval for Championship Weekend for the first time since 2019.
Meanwhile, the decklid of McDowell’s No. 71 Chevy will feature a dynamic look, including a roster showcasing many of the players on the LPGA Tour’s “Race to the CME Globe” rankings who are currently eligible to compete at the ANNIKA, a season-long points competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points in every Official LPGA Tournament to gain entry into the season-end CME Group Tour Championship. McDowell will also sport a The ANNIKA-themed driver suit featuring a golf-inspired caddie bib and golf pants on race day.
After the checkered flag waves and the 2026 NASCAR season officially comes to a close, the father-of-five will head to Florida’s Gulf Coast for The ANNIKA to share time with the LPGA Tour players and participate as a celebrity caddie in the Wednesday Pro-Am at Pelican Golf Club on Nov. 11.
“I’m definitely not the best golfer in the world so it’s easy for me to appreciate the talented players on the LPGA Tour,” said McDowell. “I’m really looking forward to visiting Pelican Golf Club to be part of the festivities and seeing the event in person. I know how important this tournament is to our partners at Group 1001 and Gainbridge, so this is a great opportunity for Spire Motorsports to play an important supporting role.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting Michael at The ANNIKA at Pelican Golf Club in November and watching the No. 71 ANNIKA Chevrolet hopefully take the checkered flag at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race,” said Sörenstam. “Thank you to our incredible partners at Gainbridge and Group 1001 for this unique partnership - shining a spotlight and elevating women’s sports.”
The ANNIKA is sponsored by Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company and features a $3.25 million purse, one of the largest on the LPGA Tour, outside of the major championships. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the ANNIKA Foundation.
With eight races before the close of the 2026 Cup Series campaign, McDowell sits 20th in points while claiming three top-five and five top-10 finishes on the year.
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race from Homestead-Miami Speedway will be televised live on NBC Sunday, Nov. 8 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 36th and final race of the 2026 season will be broadcast live in the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel 90.