NFT racehorse platform ZED set for NASCAR partnership

Virtually Human Studio (VHS), the company behind NFT racehorse product ZED, is set to partner with racing company NASCAR.

Under the remit of the agreement, VHS is initially set to release NASCAR-branded digital horses on the blockchain platform with further projects to follow.

These could include ZED venue and broadcast activations across NASCAR events, as well as appearances from NASCAR teams, drivers and tracks on the ZED platform.

The move from NASCAR to partner with VHS comes after a strategic push from the stock racing company to explore the applications and growth potential across the blockchain and NFT space.

Chris Laurent, VHS CEO, said: “Recreating what fandom means through the concept of ownership, the NASCAR and VHS partnership will lay the foundation by exploring innovation around NFTs and what it means to have skin in the game.”

Tim Clark, NASCAR chief digital officer, added: “We’re bullish on the idea that there is going to be this notion of the metaverse, where a virtual version of yourself will exist and be able to move around in that environment and ecosystem.

“How that is going to proliferate itself across NASCAR is very much a long-term play for us. We’re going to have to dip a toe into the water here,” he concluded.

Last month, VHS secured $20m in a Series A funding round backed by The Chernin Group, Andreessen Horowitz and Red Beard Ventures.