Getty Chase Elliott will pursue crucial points at Darlington Raceway.
Hendrick Motorsports has kicked off the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season with a massive move. The championship-winning organization has signed Chase Elliott to a five-year extension, lasting through the 2027 season.
HMS announced the news on the morning of February 20, hours before Elliott took on the Daytona 500. The team confirmed that the 2020 Cup Series champion will remain with the team for several years while continuing to fight for wins and return trips to the championship four. This is the biggest deal among the Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
Hendrick Motorsports x @chaseelliott
✍🏼 Five more years.
“I feel so fortunate to be in this position,” Elliott said in a statement from the team. “I have a great team with leadership from Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and the support of the best car owner and racing organization in the world. For me, there’s a lot of pride in driving for Hendrick Motorsports and having the opportunity to win races and compete for championships. We are capable of accomplishing a lot more and it starts today.”
ALL the latest NASCAR news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Heavy on NASCAR newsletter here!
Sign up for the Heavy on NASCAR Newsletter!
Elliott’s Deal Keeps Him Under Contract the Longest
GettyChase Elliott (right) and Alex Bowman (left) both signed contract extensions with Hendrick Motorsports.
Three of the Hendrick Motorsports drivers have signed contracts ahead of the 2022 Cup Series season. Alex Bowman signed a two-year extension in June 2021 that will keep him with the organization through the 2023 season. Kyle Larson inked his two-year extension in July 2021, midway through his 10-win, championship season.
Team owner Rick Hendrick has publicly stated that his goal is to keep his driver stable intact “forever.” He took a step toward achieving this goal by signing Elliott to a contract that will last through the 2027 season.
This deal will keep Elliott with the organization until he is in his early 30s. If he continues to perform at a similar level, he will only add more victories to his resume and compete for championships in the coming six seasons. Hendrick Motorsports will then have the opportunity to sign the driver of the No. 9 to another extension as he remains in the prime of his career.
“Chase is a champion on and off the track,” Hendrick said in a statement from the team. “His talent inside the race car is undeniable, and he’s just scratching the surface of what he can do. This is a young man who is mature beyond his years, comes from an incredible family, and is humble, hardworking and never takes anything for granted. As long as Chase is driving, we want him right here with Hendrick Motorsports. This is an exciting way to start the season, and we look forward to many, many more together.”
1 Driver Remains in Need of an Extension
Now that Elliott has signed his five-year extension, there is only one driver in need of a deal. William Byron, the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro, has one year remaining on his current deal. He will tentatively become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season.
Byron likely will not reach the open market. Hendrick stated that he wants to keep the Charlotte native part of the lineup after a win at Homestead-Miami Speedway and a return to the playoffs.
“Probably any time pretty soon,” Hendrick told NBC Sports’ Dustin Long during Speedweeks at Daytona. “I want those guys to be with us forever, and they’ve told me that they want to be here. So I’d say you should hear something on that pretty soon.”
If the previous deals for the other Hendrick drivers are any indication, Byron will soon be under contract for years to come. Though there will be questions about the length of the extension.
READ NEXT: Denny Hamlin Shares Surprising Origin of Michael Jordan Partnership [Exclusive Video]
Comments
Chase Elliott Signs Massive NASCAR Contract Extension: Report