2014 Nationwide Series...

[HJJ]

Chase Elliott with Napa sponsorship and taking it to JR Motorsports (Hendrick) for 2014.

One of NASCAR's “next big things” will run a full Nationwide Series schedule this year for the sport's most popular driver with backing from one of its most visible sponsors.



Third-generation racer Chase Elliott, who turned 18 in November, has been named by Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned JR Motorsports to drive the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro with backing from NAPA Auto Parts. That's the same number his father, Bill Elliott, carried for most of his NASCAR career, including his championship season of 1988.



“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” the younger Elliott said. “I couldn't ask to be partnered with anyone better than Dale Jr., Kelley and Mr. [Rick] Hendrick, along with all of the people at their organizations who have put in countless hours to pull this together. NAPA has had a tremendous impact in NASCAR, and I'm proud to represent their brand, on and off the track. 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 arrival at a full Nationwide schedule comes after a carefully planned-out path through Super Late Models, ARCA and the K&N Pro Series into the occasional Camping World and Nationwide race. He was signed in 2011 to a developmental contract with Hendrick Motorsports owner and JR Motorsports partner Rick Hendrick. He got his first K&N victory in 2012 and became ARCA's youngest-ever superspeedway winner last summer at Pocono Raceway. Several weeks later, he won a Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.



All told, he has a pole, a victory, five top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes in just nine Truck Series races. He has a pole, a victory, 11 top-five finishes, 17 top-10 finishes and two top-10 points finishes in 29 K&N races. He has a pole, a victory, seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes in 11 ARCA races. He also won the prestigious Snowball Derby at Pensacola in 2011 (his 2012 victory was vacated because of a tech violation) and the 2013 All-American 400 at Nashville.



“Chase has been extremely successful, and I think Nationwide is only a short step for him,” Earnhardt said. “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."



Elliott in his No. 9 will team with JR Motorsports incumbent Regan Smith in his No. 7 for the full 33-race season. The organization also will field a part-time No. 5 Camaro for Kevin Harvick and a No. 88 for Earnhardt. Greg Ives will be Elliott's crew chief, Ryan Pemberton will be Smith's and Ernie Cope will be Harvick's.



“No doubt the historical element of this is pretty cool,” Earnhardt said. “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.”

http://www.jayski.com/news/schemes/2...9-Team-Schemes

I see a new avatar for FOD.