NAPA Auto Parts to Sponsor Chase Elliott for 2014 NASCAR Season

NAPA AUTO PARTS has revealed it will be a full-season primary sponsor of driver Chase Elliott who will compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports starting in 2014.

With Elliott as its driver, medstore the 2014 season will mark NAPA’s 19th in NASCAR sponsorship. NAPA (National Automotive Parts Association) has more than 6, thumb 000 stores nationwide with more than 400, cough 000 quality parts and accessories for automotive and industrial applications – the most extensive inventory in the industry. NAPA headquarters is in Atlanta, Ga., just a short distance from Elliott’s hometown of Dawsonville, Ga.

“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,” commented 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,” Chase Elliott said. “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.”

JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., said: “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.”