NASCAR driver Chase Elliott last night unveiled the paint scheme for the No. 24 NAPA-sponsored Sprint Cup car he will drive in '16, saying the auto parts company "let me make a few decisions, which was really cool." Elliott showed off the car on FS1's "NASCAR Race Hub" and said of NAPA, "They were really open and willing to some of the ideas we had. The light blue stripes actually came off of their drag car that Ron Capps runs, so kind of cool to keep it all in the family.” Hendrick Motorsports Owner Rick Hendrick had not seen the paint scheme before it was unveiled yesterday, and he said, “I love it, I love the blue. NAPA is such a great partner and sponsor, so we're just super excited about this young man.” Elliott is taking over the No. 24 from Jeff Gordon after the four-time Cup series champion retires after this season. Hendrick said of keeping the No. 24 active, “The 24 is just such a part of our company. I asked Jeff, I said, ‘Jeff, if you want me to retire it for a year, I'll do it. We'll ask NASCAR and I'm sure they'll do that for you.’ He said, ‘No, I think it needs to carry on.’ So that made me feel good about it” (“NASCAR Race Hub,” FS1, 10/19). YAHOO SPORTS' Nick Bromberg notes there is a "Mountain Dew logo on Elliott's car." The soft drink "has been a Hendrick sponsor for Dale Earnhardt Jr. since he arrived at Hendrick" in '08. There has been no announcement about Mountain Dew's affiliation in '16, but the presence on the No. 24 "may be a sign the drink is moving to Elliott's ride from the No. 88." Axalta, which now owns long-time Gordon sponsor DuPont, has moved to Earnhardt's car "for the 2016 season" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/20).
