Posted on by George Winkler

Driver has plummeted in standings since runner-up 2012 finish

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From the time Clint Bowyer announced, "It’s got a dingy!", we knew this wasn’t going to be the garden variety fatherhood. So when Bowyer was asked recently whether fatherhood had knocked him out of his normal offseason routine, we should have expected a quintessentially Clint answer.

"It’s not been normal," Bowyer said with a laugh. "He (expletive) his pants the other night and it was the most not normal thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I was gagging. (Lorra’s) laughing at me. I’m like, ‘You got to get in here, it’s horrible!’ And he’s just sitting there laughing."

It was a light moment between Clint and his wife, Lorra, and their now 4-month-old son Cash. And it was just the type of funny story that team co-owner Michael Waltrip hopes we’ll hear more of this season from the guy who is just as fast with a quip as he is driving a race car.

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That’s because last season was rough for Bowyer, and some of the fun disappeared. His 19th-place finish in the final standings driving the No. 15 Toyota for MWR was his worst showing in nine full-time Cup seasons. It was a far cry from when he finished second to Brad Keselowski in 2012.

"We knew we were in trouble," Bowyer said of last season. "I was just barely getting by to get into the Chase — and was going to make it — but a part failure at Atlanta threw us out. That’s not any way or shape that we wanted to be in going into a Chase. I wanted to be able to contend for a championship, and I knew if we made it in, we wouldn’t go very far."

Failing to make the Chase was a wake-up call for a driver who had finished in the top 10 in the final standings on five different occasions. It also gave Bowyer the opportunity to be, as he said, put out of his misery so he could focus on getting ready for 2015.

A big part of what has helped him focus on the 2015 season has been becoming a father.

"(Fatherhood) slows you down, there’s no question it slows you down," Bowyer said. "Your focus is all on simple things. Your life isn’t as complex as it once was. You don’t have time to pick your head up and take in all the rest of it. You stay focused on your family and your child and racing. It really does simplify your life quite a bit because you’re not drawn to so many distractions."

Perhaps that type of focus is what helped Kevin Harvick during his championship season. There was a memorable photo of Harvick sitting next to son Keelan on the track after winning at Homestead with their backs against the wall and each giving a thumbs-up sign.

Going back to 2013, it was Matt Crafton who won the first of back-to-back NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships in the year his first child was born. So maybe there is a slight correlation between becoming a parent and being able to perform better at a job, instead of the opposite, which is what some might expect.

Count Waltrip as a firm believer in it.

"It certainly did that for me when I had my daughter," Waltrip said about gaining a renewed sense of focus. "My opinion is you become more of a complete person so you’re more comfortable with who you are. You see your kid and you see that race car, and you’re like, ‘I’m going to race the heck out of that car and then I’m going to come back and hang out with my little son.’ "

Like Waltrip said, MWR will need Bowyer to be focused for the 2015 season. Waltrip said there was still some ad inventory to be sold on Bowyer’s car, and there’s the usual pressure of needing to perform well in order to satisfy current or potential clients. Bowyer knows it’s important to make last season seem like a blip on the radar instead of the norm.

"It’s crucial for me, for 5-hour Energy, for all our partners, for everyone involved at MWR, that this is a rebound year and we get back to our winning ways and where we once were," Bowyer said. "It is very, very crucial that that happens."

With all that pressure, though, the hope is that little Cash will bring Clint back to center. So far, so good.

"He seems more fun and I know that’s crazy because he’s always been that guy," Waltrip said of Bowyer. "But you can just see it in his eyes. He’s a happy man. That’s why I’m so thankful that his energy for the team and where we’re at as an organization is where he is mentally. Because we need that fun Clint guy, and we got him, and I think his son is a big part of that."

Posted on by NASCAR Official Release

Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge encourages fans to vote

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Buy: Tickets for the Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2015) — Lee Petty in a "photo finish" for the ages. Fist fights on the backstretch. "The Intimidator’s" long-awaited trip to victory lane. The DAYTONA 500® has produced some of the most monumental moments in sports history and now fans have the chance to decide which one is the best of the best.

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From Feb. 2 – Feb. 19, NASCAR® is inviting sports fans to visit DaytonaMoments.NASCAR.com to vote for the event they consider the moment that defined the DAYTONA 500. The "Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge" will pit 16 distinct moments in "The Great American Race®" history against one another in a four-round, elimination-style set-up, similar to the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ format that debuted in 2014.

"Coming off one of the most exhilarating season finales the sport has ever seen, NASCAR created the ‘Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge’ to heighten anticipation for the 2015 season," said Steve Phelps, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at NASCAR. "This year, we’re letting NASCAR’s passionate fans set the tone for the season by voting on the moments they believe shaped the most iconic race on NASCAR’s schedule."

NASCAR is encouraging sports enthusiasts to use #DAYTONA500moments on their social media channels to share, champion and discuss the events they believe have made "The Great American Race®" one of the most highly anticipated events in all of sports. Throughout the campaign, NASCAR will showcase archival photos and video content related to the DAYTONA 500 across its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels. Rare mementos, such as tickets and race programs from Daytona International Speedway‘s archives will also be revealed on NASCAR’s social platforms to showcase the rich history of NASCAR’s season-opening, crown jewel race.

The opening round of the "Ultimate DAYTONA 500 Moment Challenge" will be introduced tonight, Feb. 2 on NASCAR Race Hub at 6 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, with regular updates and exclusive announcements on the Hub when voting blocks end and round winners advance. The "ultimate moment" of the DAYTONA 500 will be revealed Thursday, Feb. 19 on NASCAR RaceDay on FOX Sports 1. Fans who vote in each round will be entered for the chance to win a trip for two to the 2016 DAYTONA 500, including access to the three NASCAR national series race events.

Voting Schedule
• Round 1 Vote (16 moments) Monday, Feb. 2 – Monday, Feb. 9
• Round 2 Vote (12 moments) Tuesday, Feb. 10 – Thursday, Feb. 12
• Round 3 Vote (8 moments) Friday, Feb. 13 – Monday, Feb. 16
• Final Round Vote: (4 moments) Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Thursday, Feb. 19

The 16 DAYTONA 500 "Ultimate Moments"
• 1959 – In a true "photo finish," Lee Petty was crowned the first DAYTONA 500 champion three days after the race.
• 1960 – Junior Johnson discovers the art of drafting en route to his only DAYTONA 500 win.
• 1964 – Richard Petty, a second-generation driver, wins his first of a record seven DAYTONA 500s.
• 1967 – Mario Andretti wins his only NASCAR race.
• 1972 – AJ Foyt calls his shot, joining Andretti as DAYTONA 500 and Indy 500 winners.
• 1976 – David Pearson limps across the finish line after wrecking with rival Richard Petty coming out of Turn 4 on the last lap of the race.
• 1979 – "There’s a fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison! The tempers overflowing, they’re angry, they know they have lost."
• 1981 – Seven-time premier series champion Richard Petty extends his record with a seventh DAYTONA 500 title
• 1988 – Bobby Allison holds off son Davey Allison for the first father-son, one-two finish in the history of the DAYTONA 500.
• 1989 – Darrell Waltrip wins in his 17th attempt, in the No. 17 car, while his team celebrated in pit box…17.
• 1993 – Dale Jarrett holds off Dale Earnhardt with his father Ned Jarrett narrating the "Dale and Dale show" for CBS.
• 1998 – At long last, Dale Earnhardt wins "The Great American Race" and is greeted by an endless line of congratulations by opposing crew members.
• 2004 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the race that eluded his father for so long.
• 2007 – Kevin Harvick beats Mark Martin to the finish line by inches in the closest finish in DAYTONA 500 history.
• 2011 – Youngster Trevor Bayne pulls the upset giving the legendary Wood Brothers their fifth DAYTONA 500 win.
• 2013 – Danica Patrick becomes the first woman to win the Coors Light Pole for the DAYTONA 500, as well as the first to lead a lap. The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season will kick off with the 57th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. ET from Daytona International Speedway®. "The Great American Race" will be broadcast live on FOX, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com. Purchase tickets for the 2015 DAYTONA 500 via 1-800-PITSHOP or www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Posted on by NASCAR Official Release

Little named to inspection/officiating post; Sawyer to lead Truck Series

RELATED: Little, Sawyer comment on their new posts

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2015) — NASCAR today announced two leadership changes in its Competition department, including the selection of Chad Little to the new role of Managing Director, Technical Inspection/Officiating and Elton Sawyer to Managing Director, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Both assume their new responsibilities immediately.

"NASCAR recently has made significant investments in both the technical inspection and officiating areas of our sport," said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "Those areas have become flagship examples of innovation, keeping NASCAR as a premier sport. Chad is an ideal candidate to provide oversight and lead us to further evolve in those critical areas.

"Similarly, we’re fortunate to have a professional in Elton, who has substantial experience across the racing industry, to direct the popular NASCAR Camping World Truck Series."

In the new role, Little will provide high-level oversight in all areas of technical inspection and officiating for the Competition department, bringing to bear NASCAR’s Research & Development. The updated officiating model includes the introduction of NASCAR’s new Pit Road Technology, which debuts during Speedweeks in Daytona later this month.

Little, who has spent more than 10 years at NASCAR, most recently served as Series Director in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the Weekly/Touring Series. A former driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Little brings a strong background in key areas of competition to this new role.

Sawyer joins NASCAR after serving as Director of Team Operations for Action Express Racing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship governed by IMSA. Prior to that role, he held competition roles at Red Bull Racing and Evernham Motorsports. Sawyer also spent part of his career driving in NASCAR’s national series.

"We’re pleased with the development of our competition team," O’Donnell said. "Chad and Elton will join the collaborative model already in place at the R&D Center. They will work very closely with Gene Stefanyshyn and Robin Pemberton and the rest of our series directors to help NASCAR capitalize upon its strong momentum heading into the 2015 season."

 
Posted on by NASCAR Official Release

Chad Seigler to provide senior leadership to key group

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 2, 2015) — NASCAR today announced the appointment of Chad Seigler as Vice President, Business Development reporting to NASCAR Senior Vice President & Chief Sales Officer Jim O’Connell. The appointment of Seigler follows his promotion to Vice President, Team Marketing Services in 2014 and the recent departure of Sean Downes, NASCAR’s Managing Director, Business Development.

Seigler will officially transition to his new role on Feb. 9. He will oversee revenue generation and lead a sales force comprised of representatives in New York, Charlotte, Daytona and Los Angeles. In addition to setting the business strategy, Seigler will play a critical role in securing the new NASCAR Sprint Cup entitlement sponsor, as well as other Official and Entitlement Partnerships. Seigler will continue to be based in the Charlotte office.

"Throughout his tenure with NASCAR, Chad has used his unique skill set to develop relationships and help teams and tracks attract and retain sponsors," O’Connell said. "His experience working with the industry and with sponsors across all three national series — combined with the years he spent working in-house at our premier series entitlement partner — makes him the perfect choice for this critical role."

In his current role, Seigler is a resource to some of NASCAR’s biggest decision makers, overseeing a team of professionals that prospects, presents and solidifies team, track and driver sponsorship programs.

Prior to joining NASCAR in 2007, Seigler was Manager of Industry Relations at Sprint NEXTEL, where he served as the day-to-day liaison to all NEXTEL Cup track venues and managed the series sponsor relationships with NASCAR drivers, teams and owners. He also spent five seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a Sports Marketing Executive, where he established and managed marketing partnerships with 15 regional and national brands for the NFL franchise.

Seigler was named to Charlotte Business Journal’s (CBJ) annual Forty Under 40 class for 2014. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Seigler earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He serves on The National Sports Forum Steering Committee and is currently a board member for the North Carolina Motorsports Association.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

GMS Racing to run for owner’s championship with No. 33

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Brandon Jones will compete in 17 of 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for GMS Racing in the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado. Former series champion and current Sprint Cup Series competitor Austin Dillon and his brother, XFINITY Series driver Ty Dillon, will run three races apiece to round out the schedule.

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"I’m really excited for the 2015 season with GMS Racing," crew chief Shane Huffman said in a team release. "We have a great driver lineup planned with Brandon, Ty and Austin. They have a lot of talent to bring to the table, and I know we’ll be able to run up front every weekend with these guys behind the wheel of our No. 33 Chevrolet."

Jones will make his first start in March at Martinsville Speedway, where he debuted for GMS Racing last October with a 12th-place finish.

GMS Racing also plans to field a full-time entry in the series for Spencer Gallagher.

Posted on by Staff Report

Snap Fitness to serve as primary sponsor for five races in 2015

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Landon Cassill will return to Hillman-Circle Sport in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2015, and he’ll be back behind the wheel of the No. 40 Snap Fitness Chevrolet SS.

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Cassill will not only represent "America’s Fitness Brand" on the track this year. He’s also training in hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Austria.

"I would not be the caliber of athlete I am without Snap Fitness," Cassill said in a team release. "The training I’ve done at Snap Fitness has truly transformed my lifestyle and helped my endurance behind the wheel."

The company will be a primary sponsor for five races, starting in March at Atlanta Motor Speedway. At Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, it will be on board for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600. In August, Snap Fitness will adorn the No. 40 at Michigan International Speedway. When the Bojangles’ Southern 500 returns to Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway, the sponsor will ride along.

"The exposure we garnered last year with NASCAR was astounding," Steele Smiley, chief officer responsible for brand strategy, said in a team release. "Aligning America’s Fitness Brand with one of the most popular sports in the U.S. was a complete triumph and total game-changer."

In 2014, Cassill ran 34 of the 36 points race, earning his first career top-five finish in NASCAR’s premier series at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

Posted on by Staff Report

JTG Daugherty Racing focused on 36 Sprint Cup Series points races

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Related: ‘Dinger loses his spotter … on Twitter?

AJ Allmendinger, who earned his first career victory and berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2014, will not compete in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 14, 8 p.m. ET, FOX).

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A week after all 16 Chase drivers were honored during Champion’s Week in Las Vegas, NASCAR announced that the drivers were among the minimum of 25 drivers eligible to compete in the 75-lap, non-points race that kicks off the season.

RELATED: Expanded Sprint Unlimited field to feature Chase drivers

"In mid-December NASCAR changed the rules regarding Sprint Unlimited eligibility," JTG Daugherty Racing team owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement released by the team.

"We were not qualified for that race until NASCAR’s decision to expand the field stating all 16 drivers who qualified for the Chase were eligible. We had already budgeted for our 36 points paying races. There was not ample time for us to secure additional sponsorship and prepare for the race without compromising our Daytona 500 preparation."

The JTG Daugherty Racing driver will have a different gig for the Sprint Unlimited as he will be on the radio for the race as he joins Joe Moore and Jeff Striegle in the broadcast booth for MRN’s coverage.

Allmendinger will focus on the Daytona 500 (Feb. 22, 1 p.m. ET on FOX) and attempt to join Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Jamie McMurray as the only drivers to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Great American Race. Allmendinger won the Rolex 24 in 2012.

Posted on by Staff Report

Grandson of ‘The Intimidator’ makes move to Viva Motorsports

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A year after running his first full season in the XFINITY Series for JD Motorsports, Jeffrey Earnhardt has signed with Viva Motorsports and will pilot the No. 55 Fronius USA Chevrolet this season, commencing with the Alert Today Florida 300 on Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway.

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"I am extremely excited and humbled for the opportunity to drive for Viva Motorsports," Earnhardt said in a team release. "After becoming friends (with team owner Jamie Dick) last season, I knew Viva Motorsports was where I wanted to be.

"What Jamie has done with Viva Motorsports is incredible. What a lot of people don’t know is Jamie is only 25 years old. He started with a couple cars and has built it into an awesome team!"

The grandson of legendary NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardt, who is also 25, has 60 starts in the XFINITY Series and has run 10 races in the Camping World Truck Series. He’s also competed in the K&N Pro Series East and the Rolex Series GRAND-AM Sports Car Series.

Dick — who has driven the No. 55 Chevy for Viva Motorsports for the past two years — anticipates great things to come from his new driver.

"Jeffrey is a great talent, and he will bring a lot to our team on and off the racetrack," Dick said. "With Viva Motorsports equipment, Fronius USA support, and Jeffrey behind the wheel, we will be a force to be reckoned with when the season kicks off."

Posted on by Zack Albert

The 18-year-old driver will be running his first full season in the Truck Series

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Erik Jones‘ progression in the early stages of his career at the NASCAR national series level has validated his inclusion in the NASCAR Next class of up-and-comers. Documenting the progress, however, has been a sporadic process due in large part to his part-time schedule the last two years.

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Entering 2015, the 18-year-old Jones has a chance to see what he can do over the course of a full campaign as he embarks on his first complete season for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The goals are ambitious — they involve being competitive with two-time champion Matt Crafton, the benchmark of the series the last two seasons.

"On the truck side of things, definitely the driver’s championship. I don’t see a reason why we couldn’t compete for that with Matt," Jones said during last week’s Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom. "He’s going to be tough to beat and he’s shown it the last two seasons. He’s just extremely consistent and that’s probably something we’re going to have to adjust a little bit for. We’ve been a little erratic at times, but I don’t see why we can’t go out and be more consistent and be able to run top-five every week and have a strong average finish, and at the same time win a few races along the way."

Jones has been steadier than he gives himself credit for, even in just a limited time in NASCAR’s national tours. He already has four Camping World Truck Series victories in just 17 career starts, and made his first foray into the NASCAR XFINITY Series last season with three top-10s in his first three efforts. For all of his national series appearances, Jones has finished in the top 10 in 16 of his 20 races.

Jones is scheduled to run the No. 4 Toyota for KBM, which has won the series’ team owner championship the last two years running. Jones played a large part in helping last year’s cause, but says taking square aim at unseating Crafton for the driver’s title will require keeping both errors and bad luck to a minimum.

"It’s not going to be easy by any means, and it’s going to come down to really who is the most consistent, and who can consistently finish a little bit better than the other," Jones said. "He’s not going to be a guy to go out and wreck out of four or five races in a season, he’s going to probably finish every one of them and not wreck, and he’s probably going to finish all of them pretty close to the top-five, if not in the top-five, and he’s probably going to win a race or two. I think we just have to match that and best it at a few places and try to put ourselves in the best position going into Homestead."

Jones grew up in multiple ways last year, earning his high school diploma in a cap and gown during pre-race driver introductions at Texas Motor Speedway, just one week after his 18th birthday. The latter milestone gave him NASCAR clearance to race on tracks of 1.25 miles or longer, opening up more opportunities to gain experience.

His rapid learning pace has helped him secure a 10-race schedule this year with Toyota affiliate Joe Gibbs Racing in the XFINITY Series, a circuit where he aims to make the most of being on the track.

"Just getting more seat time," Jones said. "It’s obviously a bigger step to the XFINITY Series than I thought it would be, not to say that I don’t think we’ll figure it out along the way. I think if by the end of the season, if we could at least be in the mix and competing for wins, that would be a great step for us."

Posted on by Zack Albert

Gordon ‘nothing but proud’ to see Elliott continue car number’s tradition

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RELATED: Elliott to drive No. 24 in 2016 | Full coverage of Gordon’s final full-time season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NASCAR world will need some time to adjust once Jeff Gordon‘s groundbreaking driving career winds to a close. Once that day comes, the situation that won’t change is the presence of the No. 24 on the track.

Thursday’s news of Chase Elliott‘s impending rise to the Sprint Cup Series came with the nugget that the soon-to-be Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate would inherit Gordon’s traditional car number at Hendrick Motorsports as well. The move means that Elliott will transfer from one historic number in the sport — his XFINITY Series No. 9, a numeral made famous by his father, Bill — to another.

Though the No. 24 has belonged to Rick Hendrick from the time Gordon entered NASCAR’s top series in 1992, the 65-year-old team owner said he gave the four-time champion the option to shelve the number after his departure if he wished.

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"That was up to Jeff," Hendrick said Thursday during the anchor leg of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom. "To honor him, I would ask NASCAR to let it sit for a year or so, but Jeff felt like our fans — and his fans — would be excited about the fact that Chase was a young kid coming along and take the seat of the 24. So the more we thought about it, the 24 has been such a part of our DNA at Hendrick Motorsports, we needed to carry it on for the fans, for Jeff’s fans and our fans, and so that was the decision. I left it up to Jeff."

Unlike how team sports honor legendary players with retiring jersey numbers, NASCAR does not retire car numbers, which are assigned to team owners by request. The only exception, according to popular lore, is the retirement of the No. 61 belonging to NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Team owner Richard Childress kept the No. 3 after the 2001 death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, withdrawing it from Cup competition until it returned last season on Chevrolets driven by his grandson, Austin Dillon. Richard Petty’s team also mothballed its famed No. 43 for the first season (1993) after the retirement of NASCAR’s all-time winner.

While a temporary hiatus for the No. 24 was discussed after Gordon’s plans became clearer, the four-time series champion said he felt the number was in good hands with Elliott.

"Rick threw out that idea. We talked about it, but I don’t know. I like seeing the 24 out there," Gordon said. "If it were any other driver, I don’t know, but it being Chase and it being him as a rookie coming in, sort of the changing of the guard, and his talent, the way he handles himself, I’m nothing but proud to see somebody else take that 24 into the future and I think our fans are going to feel the same way at that time."

MORE: Gordon calls Elliott the ‘total package’ | See how the No. 24 torch was passed

The No. 24 has been used by 63 drivers in NASCAR’s premier series, but all the victories (92) with the car number belong to one driver — Jeff Gordon. While Elliott expressed during Thursday’s media sessions that he intended to be himself as he entered the next phase of his career, the mantle of carrying such an enduring number with him clearly resonated.

"That’s an honor," Elliott said. "The 24 car is an iconic number in this sport. It’s a number that I feel like anybody who’s ever watched NASCAR is familiar with, and obviously they relate that to Jeff Gordon. Jeff, I think that’s one thing that he wanted, to keep the car the same and I think not just for Jeff personally, but I think for the team and Hendrick Motorsports as a whole.


"That number 24 is a special piece to Hendrick Motorsports. It’s been around a long time, and I think that’s why they wanted to keep it the same."

Elliott won the championship in what is now the NASCAR XFINITY Series last season as a rookie, fielding the same car number for JR Motorsports — co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. — that his father drove to all but six of his 44 premier series wins. Bill Elliott, who was inducted Friday night into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, won six times driving the No. 11 for car owner Junior Johnson, and drove the No. 9 to victory for two different team owners — Harry Melling early in his career, and Ray Evernham late.

RELATED: Elliott’s 2015 season preview | See his championship timeline

Evernham — who joined Hendrick Motorsports as a competition consultant last season — has strong ties to both numbers, having served as the No. 24 team’s crew chief during its championship dynasty years of the 1990s.

"I know certainly his number’s been 9 and his dad’s number was 9," Evernham said of the younger Elliott, "but when you look at what’s happening here between the Elliott family, the Earnhardt family and the Hendrick family all joining up, I think everybody’s pretty OK with him having the 24, especially Jeff.

"Jeff made a comment (Thursday) morning about how good it makes him feel to be handing his team off to this young talent. Jeff cares an awful lot about the guys on that team, so to be giving them a future champion makes them feel good."

The No. 24 Chevrolet may look familiar in 2016, save for the obvious name change above the driver’s door. While the 19-year-old phenom is the next-in-line heir to a car number and a team so closely associated with a living legend, Elliott was insistent that he’s not trying to be the next Gordon.

"You’re not ever going to replace Jeff Gordon, and I think that’s my main point to get across," Elliott said. "That’s not the case at all. You know people say, ‘Well, that’s big shoes to fill,’ and I don’t look at it as a situation where I’m trying to fill his shoes. I’m trying to be myself and be the best racer I can be and that’s all you can ask for. Just trying to grow as a racer and do a better job personally. I look at it as a phenomenal opportunity. It’s a dream that I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time and just trying to make the most of it."