NASCAR fans are a picky bunch. We notice everything. If a stripe on the quarter panel is two inches higher than it was last week, social media erupts. For fans of the "Most Popular Driver," the chase elliott paint scheme is basically a weekly holiday. Whether it’s the classic blue and white of NAPA or a wild one-off for a new sponsor, that No. 9 Chevy is arguably the most scrutinized piece of real estate in motorsports.
But have you noticed how much it’s actually changing lately? We aren't just talking about a different logo. The 2026 season has already brought some of the most drastic shifts in design philosophy we’ve seen since Chase took over the ride from Jeff Gordon.
The 2026 Prime Video Shakeup
Honestly, the biggest shocker for the 2026 season wasn't a tweak to the NAPA car. It was the introduction of the Prime Video scheme. Hendrick Motorsports unveiled this one in December 2025, and it’s a complete departure from the "clean" look Chase usually runs. It’s a dark, aggressive black and blue design that looks more like a stealth fighter than a stock car.
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Prime Video is scheduled to be on the car for three major races this year:
- Talladega (April 26)
- Texas (May 3)
- The All-Star Race (May 17)
It’s interesting because Chase usually sticks to very traditional color palettes. Seeing him in a car that’s predominantly black feels... different. It’s "edgy" for a guy who usually embodies the corporate-clean image of Hendrick Motorsports.
Why do the designs keep shifting?
You've probably wondered why they can't just pick one look and stay with it. Back in the 90s, Dale Earnhardt was the black car and Jeff Gordon was the rainbow car. Simple.
Now? It’s basically about "sponsorship inventory." Big companies like NAPA still take the lion's share of the season, but even they want "freshness." They want a "Gold Filters" scheme for a few weeks or a "NAPA NightVision" look to promote a specific product line. It’s not just about brand awareness anymore; it’s about specific marketing "activations."
Plus, there's the technical side. There are long-standing rumors—and some actual evidence—that teams use paint scheme lines to mess with the Optical Scanning Station (OSS) during tech inspection. Darker colors and specific vinyl wrap patterns can sometimes help hide "creative" body work from the cameras. If the 9 car shows up with a slightly different pinstripe at a superspeedway, it might not just be for the fans. It might be for the wind tunnel.
Breaking Down the 2026 Primary Looks
The chase elliott paint scheme for the primary NAPA car got a significant makeover for 2026. If you look at the 2025 car, it was almost entirely blue along the sides. Fans kind of complained it was too "heavy."
For 2026, Hendrick brought back more white. The door panels now feature a white base with a blue stripe outlined in yellow. It’s a callback to the 2018-2021 era that many fans consider the "peak" look for the No. 9.
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Then you have the specialty sponsors:
- Kelley Blue Book (KBB): This one is appearing at Kansas and Phoenix. It keeps the traditional gold and blue, but the 2026 version has a more metallic sheen that looks incredible under the lights.
- UniFirst: This green and white monster is a staple at tracks like Martinsville and the Charlotte ROVAL. It's the brightest car in the fleet.
- LLumar: They’ve extended through 2026, usually running a red and black scheme that provides a sharp contrast to the usual blue.
The "DESI9N TO DRIVE" Tradition
One of the coolest things Chase does—and something that creates the most unique chase elliott paint scheme designs—is the "DESI9N TO DRIVE" program. This is a collaboration with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).
Every year, kids at the hospital submit drawings and designs. The winning design gets put on the car for a race (often the summer Atlanta race). These cars are usually covered in hand-drawn doodles, bright colors, and personal stories. It’s the one time a year where "aerodynamic optimization" of the paint takes a backseat to something that actually matters.
In 2025, he actually won the Atlanta race in one of these "kid-designed" cars. That diecast became an instant sell-out. People love a car with a soul.
Why Diecast Collectors Are Scrambling
If you’re a collector, the 2026 season is a bit of a nightmare for your wallet. Lionel Racing has already put up pre-orders for the Prime Video, NAPA, and KBB cars. Because the Prime Video scheme is so different, it’s tracking to be one of the highest-selling "non-primary" cars in years.
Pro tip for collectors: The "Elite" versions of these cars are getting harder to find. If you see a "Liquid Color" or "Color Chrome" version of the Prime Video car, grab it. Those specialty finishes tend to appreciate way faster than the standard "ARC" (Action Racing Collectables) models because the black/blue gradient on that specific car reacts really well to the metallic finishes.
How to Keep Track of the Weekly Changes
It’s hard to keep up. Honestly, the best way to know what the chase elliott paint scheme will be for a specific weekend is to check the "Hendrick Motorsports Paint Scheme Preview" that they drop every Tuesday or Wednesday before a race.
Also, keep an eye on the "Most Popular Driver" voting. Fans often vote based on which car they liked the best that year. The 2022 NAPA Throwback (the Jimmy Means tribute) won "Best in Show" at Darlington because fans were so nostalgic for that old-school yellow and blue look.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Spotter Guide: Before heading to the track or tuning in, download the official NASCAR spotter guide. With the No. 9 changing colors so often, you don't want to be looking for a blue car when he's running the green UniFirst scheme.
- Pre-order Early: If you want the 2026 Prime Video diecast, do it now. Limited run schemes for Chase usually "go to the moon" on the secondary market (eBay/Facebook groups) once the initial pre-orders ship.
- Follow the Designers: If you're on X (formerly Twitter), follow the designers at Hendrick. They often post "unseen" versions of schemes that didn't make the cut, which gives you a cool look at what could have been.
At the end of the day, whether it's a "boring" primary or a "flashy" one-off, the car only looks good if it’s in Victory Lane. And with the way the 9 team has been performing lately, we're probably going to see a lot of these 2026 schemes covered in confetti.