Rick Hendrick Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer After five-full seasons with Hendrick Motorsports, Nationwide Insurance won’t return as a primary sponsor at the end of the 2019 season. Nationwide is the current sponsor for Alex Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in 20 out of the 36 races as part of their two-year agreement signed last August. The insurance company released a statement Wednesday about their decision, which came down to a marketing decision that would benefit them more as a business entity. “As Nationwide’s business needs evolve, we are adjusting our marketingRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jimmie Johnson, who had crashed in the past six running of the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway, found a way to win the 2019 version of the season-opening exhibition race—by helping to trigger a wreck that eliminated nearly everyone else. Moments before a rainstorm halted the action and ultimately made the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race official after 59 of 75 scheduled laps, Johnson—running second on Lap 56—pulled to the inside of leader Paul Menard, who movedRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor Though Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports may be losing Lowe’s as a sponsor at season’s end, the organization announced Sunday at Martinsville that they have found a new sponsor to take over starting in 2019 Lowe’s announced their departure from the sport back in March, forcing HMS to find a new sponsor for the No. 48 car for the first time since 2002. After seven months of looking, Ally Financial came to the forefront and they will sponsor the team full-time for the next two seasons.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer “I have to say ultimately, it’s Rick’s call. It’s Hendrick Motorsports. We’ve had a lot of very open conversations and discussions but in the end, Rick is the one that makes the decisions,” Jimmie Johnson said on who made the call to split up a 17-year partnership with crew chief Chad Knaus. A day removed from the bombshell news of the NASCAR season took place, both Johnson and Knaus spoke for the first time about the announcement Thursday. It’s no secret the legendary duo has hadRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer What fans expected to be a career-long partnership will no longer be as the legendary duo of seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus will split at the end of the season after 17 seasons together. Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday that changes were made in both the No. 48 and No. 24 teams for the 2019 season. Knaus will now make the calls for William Byron, while current Xfinity Series crew chief Kevin Meendering has been promoted to becomeRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor It’s the end of an era. Lowe’s Home Improvement, which has sponsored Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports since the team came into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2001, announced on Wednesday that they would not be returning to adorn Johnson’s Chevrolet in 2019. “Working with Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie, Chad (Knaus) and the entire No. 48 team has been an incredible journey,” said Michael P. McDermott, Lowe’s chief customer officer. “Rick Hendrick and his organization have been exceptional partners,Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Eastman Performance Films, LLC announced at the Eastman’s Elite Dealer Conference in San Diego Friday they’ve struck a three-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports to sponsor Alex Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Eastman’s product LLumar Window Film will be Bowman’s primary sponsor for one race in 2018 and two races for both 2019 and 2020 seasons. Eastman now becomes the fourth primary sponsor for the No. 88 team this season, joining alongside Nationwide (19 races), Axalta (15 races) and Valvoline (two races). “We are pleasedRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After a season that saw Chevrolet miss out on the top-four in the final championship standings in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the first time in recent memory, a new car model for the 2018 season has the Bowtie Brigade energized for the season to come. Late last year, Chevrolet unveiled the Camaro ZL1 model that would be replacing the outgoing SS, marking the first redesign for the manufacturer since the Gen 6 was rolled out in 2013. RightRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer NAPA Auto Parts announced on Tuesday that it will extend its sponsorship deal with Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott from 24 to 26 races this season and continue sponsoring the No. 9 Chevrolet through 2020. NAPA will also be the exclusive primary sponsor for Elliott in the Daytona 500 each year and will be Elliott’s associate sponsor in all non-primary events. “The relationship with NAPA has been a major part of my career starting in 2014,” Elliott said. “Their support has been huge for me,Read More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor Editor’s note: Motorsports Tribune will be previewing the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season for the top-30 drivers in the series leading into next month’s 60th running of the Daytona 500. Age: 20 Years in Cup: Rookie Career Wins: Four Xfinity Series wins and seven Truck Series wins Biggest Accomplishment: 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion William Byron’s rapid ascension through the NASCAR ranks has him ready to tackle the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018 as he climbs behind the wheel of the famousRead More