Fresh look in two thousand eighteen with four iconic car numbers

CONCORD, N.C. — When a fresh NASCAR season commences in February, rising starlet Pursue Elliott will be reunited with the number synonymous with his legendary racing family and rookie William Byron will take the wheel of one of the most iconic cars in motor sports history.

In 2018, 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports will introduce the No. Nine NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro to its four-car team with Elliott in the driver’s seat. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native raced the No. Nine to the two thousand fourteen NASCAR Xfinity Series title, and his Hall of Fame father Bill Elliott memorably drove it to thirty eight Cup-level wins and the one thousand nine hundred eighty eight series championship.

“I wasn’t sure I’d ever drive the ‘9’ again,” said Pursue Elliott, 21, who is presently in his 2nd season driving the No. Twenty four Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s a meaty deal to my family and everyone back home (in Georgia), and I hope all of our fans will be pumped to see it back on the racetrack. There’s a legacy affixed to that number, and I want to carry it on. I think it’s awesome that Hendrick Motorsports and NAPA wished to do this. It’s unlikely not to be excited.”

When Byron starts his very first career Daytona five hundred next year, it will be in the iconic No. Twenty four Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet made famous by four-time Cup Series champ Jeff Gordon and his storied Rainbow Warriors team. Byron will begin his two thousand eighteen rookie season at the same age Gordon was (20) when he made his Cup debut in 1992.

“Jeff and Jimmie (Johnson) are the drivers I’ve always observed most closely and attempted to learn from,” said Byron, Nineteen, who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and signed with Hendrick Motorsports in August 2016. “I didn’t think I could be more motivated, but when Mr. (Rick) Hendrick called to tell me (about driving the No. 24), it took things to another level. I have so much respect for all the people who have contributed to the success of the ‘24.’ I know it’s infrequent to have the chance to be part of something like this. I’m going to make the most of it.”

Next season, Elliott and Byron will team with the No. Forty eight of seven-time Cup champ Johnson, 41, and the No. Eighty eight of 24-year-old newcomer Alex Bowman in the Hendrick Motorsports stable.

“I know what the ‘9’ means to Pursue and his entire family,” said Hendrick, holder of Hendrick Motorsports. “They’ve contributed so much to our sport, and I’m glad we can honor that history by bringing the number back. I think fans will truly love watching it out there. I told Pursue we’d only do it if he promised to win a bunch of races, so I’m going to hold him to that.

“The ‘fit factor’ is something I’ve always believed in, and that’s what I see with William and our organization. He reminds me a lot of Jeff at that age with regard to being a special talent and having a fine head on his shoulders. But William is also his own person with his own career ahead of him. It’s going to be joy to observe him leap in the ‘24’ and display what he’s capable of.”

The debut of the No. Nine will mark the very first time in almost a decade that Hendrick Motorsports will field a fresh car number for one of its full-time teams. The most latest addition was the No. 88, which was added in two thousand eight when driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined the organization.

“I’m excited about the future,” Hendrick said. “We’ve made some management decisions recently that I feel indeed good about. Looking at next year, Jimmie will proceed to be a leader and help set the tone. Alex is chomping at the bit and ready to go. When you add the (fresh) Chevrolet Camaro race car into the mix, it’ll undoubtedly be a fresh look for us. Everyone’s energized.”

Following the two thousand seventeen season, Hendrick Motorsports will withdraw its No. Five car number from competition. It was the organization’s very first car number and has run full-time since the team was founded in 1984. The No. Five was raced to Hendrick Motorsports’ very first victory at Martinsville Speedway during its inaugural season, and Terry Labonte drove it to a Cup Series championship in 1996.

“That was by far the hardest part (of the car number decisions),” Hendrick said. “The ‘5’ means so much to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and to a lot of our fans. The memories and the history will always be there, and I won’t rule out bringing it back some day. Never say never.”

Next season, Elliott and the No. Nine will be fielded by his current No. Twenty four team while Byron and the No. Twenty four will be fielded by the current No. Five team.

• Will make its Hendrick Motorsports debut with driver Pursue Elliott in 2018
• Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott raced it in the NASCAR Cup Series for the very first time in 1976
• 1988 Cup Series championship with Bill Elliott; raced to thirty eight of his forty four career Cup wins
• 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship with Pursue Elliott
• 53 combined points-paying wins in Cup Series competition with five drivers

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with Jeff Gordon in 1992; driven by Gordon until 2015
• Presently raced by Pursue Elliott, who debuted in two thousand sixteen and won Cup Series rookie of the year
• With Gordon, four Cup Series championships and all ninety three of its points-paying Cup victories; race wins include three Daytona 500s and a record five Brickyard 400s

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with driver Jimmie Johnson in 2001
• With Johnson, a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and eighty three of its eighty six points-paying Cup wins; Johnson’s wins include two Daytona 500s and four Brickyard 400s
• From 2002-2016, Five.Three average wins per year and Three.Four average championship points finish

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008
• With Earnhardt, nine points-paying race wins, including the two thousand fourteen Daytona five hundred 74 combined points-paying wins in Cup Series competition with five drivers: Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Buck Baker; one thousand nine hundred ninety nine Cup championship with Jarrett

Fresh look in two thousand eighteen with four iconic car numbers, Hendrick Motorsports

Fresh look in two thousand eighteen with four iconic car numbers

CONCORD, N.C. — When a fresh NASCAR season starts in February, rising starlet Pursue Elliott will be reunited with the number synonymous with his legendary racing family and rookie William Byron will take the wheel of one of the most iconic cars in motor sports history.

In 2018, 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports will introduce the No. Nine NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro to its four-car team with Elliott in the driver’s seat. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native raced the No. Nine to the two thousand fourteen NASCAR Xfinity Series title, and his Hall of Fame father Bill Elliott memorably drove it to thirty eight Cup-level wins and the one thousand nine hundred eighty eight series championship.

“I wasn’t sure I’d ever drive the ‘9’ again,” said Pursue Elliott, 21, who is presently in his 2nd season driving the No. Twenty four Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s a hefty deal to my family and everyone back home (in Georgia), and I hope all of our fans will be pumped to see it back on the racetrack. There’s a legacy affixed to that number, and I want to carry it on. I think it’s awesome that Hendrick Motorsports and NAPA wished to do this. It’s unlikely not to be excited.”

When Byron starts his very first career Daytona five hundred next year, it will be in the iconic No. Twenty four Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet made famous by four-time Cup Series champ Jeff Gordon and his storied Rainbow Warriors team. Byron will begin his two thousand eighteen rookie season at the same age Gordon was (20) when he made his Cup debut in 1992.

“Jeff and Jimmie (Johnson) are the drivers I’ve always observed most closely and attempted to learn from,” said Byron, Nineteen, who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and signed with Hendrick Motorsports in August 2016. “I didn’t think I could be more motivated, but when Mr. (Rick) Hendrick called to tell me (about driving the No. 24), it took things to another level. I have so much respect for all the people who have contributed to the success of the ‘24.’ I know it’s infrequent to have the chance to be part of something like this. I’m going to make the most of it.”

Next season, Elliott and Byron will team with the No. Forty eight of seven-time Cup champ Johnson, 41, and the No. Eighty eight of 24-year-old newcomer Alex Bowman in the Hendrick Motorsports stable.

“I know what the ‘9’ means to Pursue and his entire family,” said Hendrick, holder of Hendrick Motorsports. “They’ve contributed so much to our sport, and I’m blessed we can honor that history by bringing the number back. I think fans will truly love observing it out there. I told Pursue we’d only do it if he promised to win a bunch of races, so I’m going to hold him to that.

“The ‘fit factor’ is something I’ve always believed in, and that’s what I see with William and our organization. He reminds me a lot of Jeff at that age with regard to being a special talent and having a good head on his shoulders. But William is also his own person with his own career ahead of him. It’s going to be joy to see him leap in the ‘24’ and display what he’s capable of.”

The debut of the No. Nine will mark the very first time in almost a decade that Hendrick Motorsports will field a fresh car number for one of its full-time teams. The most latest addition was the No. 88, which was added in two thousand eight when driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined the organization.

“I’m excited about the future,” Hendrick said. “We’ve made some management decisions recently that I feel indeed good about. Looking at next year, Jimmie will proceed to be a leader and help set the tone. Alex is chomping at the bit and ready to go. When you add the (fresh) Chevrolet Camaro race car into the mix, it’ll certainly be a fresh look for us. Everyone’s energized.”

Following the two thousand seventeen season, Hendrick Motorsports will withdraw its No. Five car number from competition. It was the organization’s very first car number and has run full-time since the team was founded in 1984. The No. Five was raced to Hendrick Motorsports’ very first victory at Martinsville Speedway during its inaugural season, and Terry Labonte drove it to a Cup Series championship in 1996.

“That was by far the hardest part (of the car number decisions),” Hendrick said. “The ‘5’ means so much to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and to a lot of our fans. The memories and the history will always be there, and I won’t rule out bringing it back some day. Never say never.”

Next season, Elliott and the No. Nine will be fielded by his current No. Twenty four team while Byron and the No. Twenty four will be fielded by the current No. Five team.

• Will make its Hendrick Motorsports debut with driver Pursue Elliott in 2018
• Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott raced it in the NASCAR Cup Series for the very first time in 1976
• 1988 Cup Series championship with Bill Elliott; raced to thirty eight of his forty four career Cup wins
• 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship with Pursue Elliott
• 53 combined points-paying wins in Cup Series competition with five drivers

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with Jeff Gordon in 1992; driven by Gordon until 2015
• Presently raced by Pursue Elliott, who debuted in two thousand sixteen and won Cup Series rookie of the year
• With Gordon, four Cup Series championships and all ninety three of its points-paying Cup victories; race wins include three Daytona 500s and a record five Brickyard 400s

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with driver Jimmie Johnson in 2001
• With Johnson, a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and eighty three of its eighty six points-paying Cup wins; Johnson’s wins include two Daytona 500s and four Brickyard 400s
• From 2002-2016, Five.Three average wins per year and Trio.Four average championship points finish

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008
• With Earnhardt, nine points-paying race wins, including the two thousand fourteen Daytona five hundred 74 combined points-paying wins in Cup Series competition with five drivers: Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Buck Baker; one thousand nine hundred ninety nine Cup championship with Jarrett

Fresh look in two thousand eighteen with four iconic car numbers, Hendrick Motorsports

Fresh look in two thousand eighteen with four iconic car numbers

CONCORD, N.C. — When a fresh NASCAR season starts in February, rising starlet Pursue Elliott will be reunited with the number synonymous with his legendary racing family and rookie William Byron will take the wheel of one of the most iconic cars in motor sports history.

In 2018, 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports will introduce the No. Nine NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro to its four-car team with Elliott in the driver’s seat. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native raced the No. Nine to the two thousand fourteen NASCAR Xfinity Series title, and his Hall of Fame father Bill Elliott memorably drove it to thirty eight Cup-level wins and the one thousand nine hundred eighty eight series championship.

“I wasn’t sure I’d ever drive the ‘9’ again,” said Pursue Elliott, 21, who is presently in his 2nd season driving the No. Twenty four Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s a gigantic deal to my family and everyone back home (in Georgia), and I hope all of our fans will be pumped to see it back on the racetrack. There’s a legacy linked to that number, and I want to carry it on. I think it’s awesome that Hendrick Motorsports and NAPA wished to do this. It’s unlikely not to be excited.”

When Byron starts his very first career Daytona five hundred next year, it will be in the iconic No. Twenty four Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet made famous by four-time Cup Series champ Jeff Gordon and his storied Rainbow Warriors team. Byron will begin his two thousand eighteen rookie season at the same age Gordon was (20) when he made his Cup debut in 1992.

“Jeff and Jimmie (Johnson) are the drivers I’ve always observed most closely and attempted to learn from,” said Byron, Nineteen, who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and signed with Hendrick Motorsports in August 2016. “I didn’t think I could be more motivated, but when Mr. (Rick) Hendrick called to tell me (about driving the No. 24), it took things to another level. I have so much respect for all the people who have contributed to the success of the ‘24.’ I know it’s uncommon to have the chance to be part of something like this. I’m going to make the most of it.”

Next season, Elliott and Byron will team with the No. Forty eight of seven-time Cup champ Johnson, 41, and the No. Eighty eight of 24-year-old newcomer Alex Bowman in the Hendrick Motorsports stable.

“I know what the ‘9’ means to Pursue and his entire family,” said Hendrick, possessor of Hendrick Motorsports. “They’ve contributed so much to our sport, and I’m blessed we can honor that history by bringing the number back. I think fans will truly love watching it out there. I told Pursue we’d only do it if he promised to win a bunch of races, so I’m going to hold him to that.

“The ‘fit factor’ is something I’ve always believed in, and that’s what I see with William and our organization. He reminds me a lot of Jeff at that age with regard to being a special talent and having a good head on his shoulders. But William is also his own person with his own career ahead of him. It’s going to be joy to observe him leap in the ‘24’ and demonstrate what he’s capable of.”

The debut of the No. Nine will mark the very first time in almost a decade that Hendrick Motorsports will field a fresh car number for one of its full-time teams. The most latest addition was the No. 88, which was added in two thousand eight when driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined the organization.

“I’m excited about the future,” Hendrick said. “We’ve made some management decisions recently that I feel truly good about. Looking at next year, Jimmie will proceed to be a leader and help set the tone. Alex is chomping at the bit and ready to go. When you add the (fresh) Chevrolet Camaro race car into the mix, it’ll certainly be a fresh look for us. Everyone’s energized.”

Following the two thousand seventeen season, Hendrick Motorsports will withdraw its No. Five car number from competition. It was the organization’s very first car number and has run full-time since the team was founded in 1984. The No. Five was raced to Hendrick Motorsports’ very first victory at Martinsville Speedway during its inaugural season, and Terry Labonte drove it to a Cup Series championship in 1996.

“That was by far the hardest part (of the car number decisions),” Hendrick said. “The ‘5’ means so much to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and to a lot of our fans. The memories and the history will always be there, and I won’t rule out bringing it back some day. Never say never.”

Next season, Elliott and the No. Nine will be fielded by his current No. Twenty four team while Byron and the No. Twenty four will be fielded by the current No. Five team.

• Will make its Hendrick Motorsports debut with driver Pursue Elliott in 2018
• Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott raced it in the NASCAR Cup Series for the very first time in 1976
• 1988 Cup Series championship with Bill Elliott; raced to thirty eight of his forty four career Cup wins
• 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship with Pursue Elliott
• 53 combined points-paying wins in Cup Series competition with five drivers

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with Jeff Gordon in 1992; driven by Gordon until 2015
• Presently raced by Pursue Elliott, who debuted in two thousand sixteen and won Cup Series rookie of the year
• With Gordon, four Cup Series championships and all ninety three of its points-paying Cup victories; race wins include three Daytona 500s and a record five Brickyard 400s

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with driver Jimmie Johnson in 2001
• With Johnson, a record-tying seven Cup Series championships and eighty three of its eighty six points-paying Cup wins; Johnson’s wins include two Daytona 500s and four Brickyard 400s
• From 2002-2016, Five.Three average wins per year and Three.Four average championship points finish

• Very first fielded by Hendrick Motorsports with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008
• With Earnhardt, nine points-paying race wins, including the two thousand fourteen Daytona five hundred 74 combined points-paying wins in Cup Series competition with five drivers: Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Buck Baker; one thousand nine hundred ninety nine Cup championship with Jarrett

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