It would appear that burger outlet Wendy’s has a beef with its rival McDonald’s. Some industry watchers would say “What else is new?” given the corporate competition, even animosity, that exists between the two burger chains.
But this is different. This has to do with cars. Fast cars. Really fast cars.
Both burger empires have sponsored cars for the upcoming Daytona 500 speed race, and the rivalry extends to the asphalt and into the pits.
McDonald’s plastered the front of #23 Bubba Wallace’s Toyota Camry with the famed and iconic golden arches, making it one of the easiest corporate logos to see with cars zipping by at 200 mph.
Not to be out-done, Wendy’s put a Whopper on the hood of #42 Noah Gragson’s Chevrolet, along with the header THE BEEF. Wendy, herself, is pictured along the flanks of the car with a pair of racing goggles to suit the occasion. Ronald McDonald, by comparison, does not make an appearance on Wallace’s car.
Wendy’s CEO Carl Loredo called the McDonald’s artwork boring, and referred to it as McBland, saying that Wendy’s doesn’t cut corners, whatever that might mean. McDonald’s, on the other hand, says that beauty must be in the eye of the beholder, and that the beholder will be watching the McDonald’s car start at the #15 position while Wendy’s starts at #22.
In the qualifying time trials, Wallace’s car placed 11th, while Gagson’s came in at 28th, something McDonald’s likes to point out.
I guess the ultimate drama would play out if we were to witness both cars coming down the stretch, neck-and-neck, to see who gets bragging rights in the burger wars. A knock-‘em down drag-‘em out finish, with maybe a driver fist-fight at the end, with everyone going to Burger King afterwards to celebrate.
The Daytona 500 takes place Sunday. Anybody want fries with that?
NEWSMAGRENFREW 