NASCAR team DROPS Hooters as sponsor after sports bar - known for its scantily-clad servers - failed to pay its bills, just days after shuttering 40 locations

Longtime NASCAR sponsor Hooters has been dropped by Hendrick Motorsports after failing to pay its bills. 

The sports bar, known for its chicken wings and scantily-clad servers, is in dire financial straits amid the closure of 40 restaurants nationwide.

In a statement, the team said Hooters could not meet the necessary requirements to continue their partnership, which began in 2017. 

'Due to these unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, and despite extensive efforts on both sides to identify a workable solution, it became necessary for Hendrick Motorsports to end the relationship,' the team said. 

They also thanked the company for its contributions to 'successes both on and off the track.' 

Hooters broke into NASCAR in the early 1990s, sponsoring the late NASCAR series champion Alan Kulwicki.

For the past seven years, Hooters sponsored the No. 9 car driven by NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, who took the drivers' title in 2020.

A spokesperson for the Florida-based restaurant chain previously confirmed it had abruptly shuttered 40 locations last month.

'Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores,' they told DailyMail.com. 

'We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the US and around the globe.'

Hooters will have about 300 restaurants globally after the closures. That is down from 333 in 2018, according to Techonomic. 

The company is not believed to be in as dire financial straits as competitor Red Lobster, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

Rather, bosses said the 41-year-old brand 'remains highly resilient and relevant,' and highlighted a new range of Hooters frozen food which is being sold in supermarkets across America.