Elliott in Nationwide with NAPA bargain
Newing celebrity Hunt Elliott has actually landed a full-time NASCAR ride for 2014 with JR Motorsports, with surprise sponsor from NAPA Automobile Parts.
Elliott, kid of 1988 NASCAR champ Bill Elliott, will certainly race for the Nationwide Collection title at JRM driving the No. 9 Chevrolet in a nod to his father's long time number.
The ride became feasible when NAPA altered its decision to leave NASCAR following the detraction bordering Michael Waltrip Racing's try to control a September race to get Martin Truex Jr. in to the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
NAPA issued an extreme rebuke of MWR and finished its multimillion-dollar sponsorship of Truex one year in to a three-year agreement expansion with MWR. That cost Truex his ride at MWR and compelled the organization to lay off concerning a third of its workforce.
However the Atlanta-based company had a change of mind, making a decision to return for a 19th season in NASCAR to support the up-and-coming Elliott. The Elliotts are from Dawsonville, Ga., approximately a hr from NAPA base of operations, and Hunt didn't become eligible to contend full-time in NASCAR up until he transformed 18 at the end of November.
"NAPA delights in to proceed its historical involvement in NASCAR, the most popular type of motorsports in the Usa supported by its lots of loyal and enthusiastic supporters," claimed Dan Askey, head of state of NAPA. "Chase Elliott is a young and gifted future superstar in the sport and will certainly stand for NAPA well both on and off the track.".
NAPA agents declined job interviews.
JR Motorsports general supervisor Kelley Earnhardt Miller claimed Elliott and NAPA had actually authorized multiyear deals.
"Hunt has been driving for Hendrick Motorsports," she stated, "so it's only an organic development that as they tried to find chances for him in the Nationwide Series and provided our partnership of (Rick) Hendrick having part of JR Motorsports, it's a natural situation for Chase to land here as a vehicle driver in the Nationwide Series.".
Elliott will certainly make his Nationwide debut at the Feb. 22 season-opening race at Daytona. He will certainly mention for screening this weekend and be paired with crew chief Greg Ives, which led Regan Smith to 2 wins and a third-place surface in the standings at JRM last period.
"This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me, an opportunity to make a job of this," Elliott said. "I could not ask for anything more than an opportunity with JR Motorsports, the support of Rick Hendrick, and the support of NAPA. I think to have that connection with NAPA is truly, truly neat. The base of operations is not far from our house, and to me, that goes a lot additionally compared to you think. For both people to come from Georgia, my home state, is unique.".
Pay per Head Review rate Pay per Head Network #1 for exceptional price per head sports betting solutions starting at just $5 per head for premium price per head bookie software.
Elliott said he had fidgeted concerning his leads for 2014 until the JRM offer emerged. Now he'll be examining JRM automobiles with his father this weekend break at Daytona International Speedway, as Bill Elliott paces a Chevrolet that will be driven part time by multiple drivers.
"I most definitely didn't believe something comparable to this possibility would mix," Elliott said. "I truly seemed like it was getting to completion of the year, and ... we weren't actual sure what we were visiting be doing.
"But this is without a doubt the very best situation situation, and thankfully it worked out for us.".
Elliott has actually been in the Hendrick Motorsports development program because 2011, when he was a fresher in secondary school. His very first NASCAR K&N Series succeed was at Iowa in 2012, and he came to be the youngest superspeedway champion in ARCA past at Pocono last June. He after that succeeded in the Vehicle Set in just his 6th beginning when he won at Canadian Tire Motorsports Playground in September.
"I assume the Nationwide Collection is only a brief step for him," JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated. "He's that great.".
JRM will certainly field 2 permanent groups this season with Elliott and Smith in the No. 7 Chevrolet. The organization will certainly also run the No. 5 with Kevin Harvick on a restricted basis and the No. 88 with Earnhardt Jr. Ryan Pemberton will certainly switch out Ives as Smith's team principal.
"This will be the strongest lineup we've applied the track since we began dashing full-time in 2006," Earnhardt Miller said.
Elliott will attempt to end up being only the 5th multi-generational NASCAR champ. His father won 44 Mug races, featuring two Daytona 500s; "Outstanding Bill from Dawsonville" was also a 16-time winner of NASCAR's Most Popular Motorist Honor.
"No question the historical aspect of this is pretty awesome," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Bill Elliott is one of the greats. I've always respected him. He had some great battles with my father. I assume there are a bunch of Elliott followers and Earnhardt supporters that will certainly take passion in Hunt's occupation and assistance him 100 percent.".
Elliott will certainly spend the initial half of the Nationwide season handling his initial full-time work and the second term of his senior year of high school in Georgia.
The school has been versatile in dealing with Elliott as he's sought his racing occupation, yet the Nationwide timetable will certainly be his most extensive competing to date and mother, Cindy, spent part of Monday discussing a plan with supervisors.
"I hope they are comprehending since this is a full-time work and one that will require me to be gone a lot-- but second semester of senior year of senior high school? There's typically not a lot taking place," he claimed. "I wish that side of it is manageable considering that I really think I've been provided a great deal in this scenario. I feel things are placed here at the shop, with NAPA, everything is aligned for excellence.".
Want to know more about the best pay per head sports betting? Check our pay per head articles
