Chase Elliott will compete full time in the
NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports beginning in 2014, with NAPA AUTO
PARTS as his full-season primary sponsor.
The
2014 season will mark the 19th year of NASCAR sponsorship for NAPA, which
boasts has more than 6,000 stores nationwide. The company’s headquarters in
Atlanta, Ga., is just a short distance from Elliott’s hometown of Dawsonville.
“NAPA is pleased to continue its long
standing involvement in NASCAR, the most popular form of motorsports in the
United States supported by its many loyal and passionate fans,” said Dan Askey,
President of NAPA. “Equally, we are proud to form this new partnership with JR
Motorsports. Kelley Earnhardt Miller, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rick Hendrick and
its many employees have developed one of the premier teams in the Nationwide
Series. Chase Elliott is a young and talented, future star in the sport and
will represent NAPA well both on and off the track. We welcome Chase and the
entire JR Motorsports organization to the NAPA Family.”
Elliott will carry the No. 9 on his NAPA
Chevrolet – the same number his father, legendary racer Bill Elliott, carried
for much of his storied career that included the 1988 Sprint Cup Series
championship. The 2014 season will mark the younger Elliott’s Nationwide Series
debut. He turned 18 on Nov. 28, becoming eligible for competition.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,”
said Elliott. “My family and I are still trying to believe it all. I couldn’t
ask to be partnered with anyone better than Dale Jr., Kelley and Mr. Hendrick,
along with all of the people at their organizations who have put in countless
hours to pull this together.
“Working with NAPA will be an honor.
They’ve had a tremendous impact in NASCAR, and I’m proud to represent their
brand, on and off the track, to race fans. I’m extremely pumped to get to work
in 2014 with that first trip to Daytona and make the most of this opportunity.”
Elliott’s ascent through super late models
and other national touring divisions is decorated with wins and accolades. The
Georgia Racing Hall of Fame named Elliott its 2013 Driver of the Year after
winning the All-American 400 at historic Nashville Fairgrounds and becoming the
first driver to win all four Super Late Model majors.
He was signed by Hendrick Motorsports owner
and JR Motorsports partner Rick Hendrick in 2011. He scored his first NASCAR
K&N Series win at Iowa Speedway on May 19, 2012, and became the youngest
superspeedway winner in ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) history at
Pocono Raceway on June 8, 2013. His splash into the NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series reset the record books. He became, at the time, the youngest winner in
series history in only his sixth start – Sept. 1, 2013, at Canadian Tire
Motorsports Park.
“Chase has been extremely successful, and I
think the Nationwide Series is only a short step for him,” said JR Motorsports
owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. “With the infrastructure we have at JR Motorsports and
our close-working partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, we have every
opportunity to continue Chase’s development as a driver while contending for a
championship. He’s that good.
“The key in this is NAPA, and I feel privileged
to welcome them to my race team after working with them so extensively earlier
in my career. I recognize – and I think Chase does, too – the responsibility
that comes with representing a company so significant in the lives of NASCAR
fans. We welcome the opportunity and appreciate what NAPA means to this sport.”
The addition of Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA
team gives JR Motorsports two full-schedule teams to compete for a championship
in 2014. Regan Smith and the No. 7 TaxSlayer.com team will return after a 2013
run of two wins. JR Motorsports will also field two partial-schedule teams –
the No. 5 with Kevin Harvick and the No. 88 with Earnhardt Jr. Greg Ives will
serve as Elliott’s crew chief on the No. 9, with Ryan Pemberton taking over the
No. 7 and Ernie Cope the No. 5.
“This will be the strongest line-up we’ve
put on the track since we started racing full time in 2006,” said Kelley
Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “We experienced very big
gains this past year by all our teams and drivers. Regan tied our best-ever
finish in points, and we won two races. We pride ourselves on competing for
wins, and all four of our drivers are capable of doing that any given week.”
By taking on the full 33-race schedule,
Elliott has the chance to become only the fifth multi-generational NASCAR
champion, as only Richard Petty (Lee Petty), Larry Pearson (David Pearson),
Dale Jarrett (Ned Jarrett) and Earnhardt Jr. (Dale Earnhardt Sr.) have
accomplished such a feat. Bill Elliott’s 1988 Sprint Cup title came during a
season in which he recorded six of his 44 career wins. Known affectionately as
“Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” Bill Elliott is a two-time winner of the
Daytona 500, a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and a 16-time
winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award.
“No doubt the historical element of this is
pretty cool,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Bill Elliott is one of the greats. I’ve
always looked up to him. He had some great battles with my dad. Certainly The
Winston in 1987 is an all-time favorite. It was probably some of the hardest
racing you’ll see, and it’s fun to watch even to this day. I think there are a
lot of Elliott fans and Earnhardt fans that will take interest in Chase’s
career and support him 100 percent.”
Elliott signed with Hendrick Motorsports
when he was just a freshman in high school. Since 2011 his family-owned team,
Bill Elliott Racing, has received support from the Rick Hendrick-owned
organization while it toured super late model, pro late model and NASCAR
regional events. Hendrick Motorsports fielded a truck for Elliott in nine
Camping World Truck Series events in 2013, to which he finished sixth or better
in his first six races. That included his victory in the Chevrolet Silverado
250 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on Sept. 1.
“Chase is the genuine article,” Hendrick
said. “It’s been fun to see him grow, and all the credit goes to Bill and Cindy
for how they’ve guided him. He’s a real talent, and his next steps will be
exciting to watch.
“The commitment from NAPA speaks volumes,
and bringing together the Elliotts and Earnhardts – two incredible racing
families – will energize our fans. I can’t wait to see that No. 9 NAPA
Chevrolet with another talented Elliott behind the wheel. This is a great
announcement for our sport.”
That is about the best news possible!
ReplyDeleteThis is great news. So happy for Chase and happy that NAPA stayed. I think/hope we see a long term partnership with Chase and NAPA. Also I think the fans should go to NAPA's web site and thank them for staying in the sport.
ReplyDeleteThats Great!!!!!. 2014 will be a awesome year for NAPA.this relation will last long.All the best.
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