It is kind of wild when you think about it. You’d think NASCAR fans would be mostly talking about horsepower or aero packages or whatever new rule the sanctioning body just dreamt up. But if you spend five minutes on social media, you’ll realize that Chase Elliott paint schemes are basically their own economy. People care. Deeply.
Maybe it’s because he took over the most iconic number in the history of Hendrick Motorsports—the 24—and then switched to his dad’s legendary No. 9. Or maybe it’s just because NAPA blue and yellow is as comfortable as an old pair of boots.
Honestly, it isn't just about looking "cool." For Chase fans, the car is a direct link to the Bill Elliott era. It's a bridge between the old Dawsonville "Million Dollar Bill" days and the current era of Next Gen racing.
The 2026 Shift: A New Era for NAPA
We just got a look at the 2026 primary look, and it’s hitting differently. Hendrick Motorsports dropped the reveal in early December 2025, and it’s a departure from the "blue-heavy" era we've seen lately. For 2026, the NAPA Auto Parts Chevy is leaning back into a cleaner look.
The white is back in a big way.
If you remember the 2018-2021 run, the car had a lot of white on the sides. Then, in 2023 and 2024, they went dark. They leaned into a deep, almost midnight blue that looked great under the lights but sometimes felt a little heavy on a cloudy Sunday at Martinsville. The 2026 version feels like a "greatest hits" compilation. It’s got the sharp yellow accents—specifically those yellow arrows pointing at the number—but it feels faster just sitting there.
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The Prime Video Factor
One of the biggest shakeups in recent years hasn't been a color change, but a sponsor one. Prime Video jumped on board for the 2025 season as part of NASCAR’s new media rights deal. Seeing Chase in a black and blue No. 9 Prime car was a total system shock for people used to the bright NAPA yellow.
It’s a "mean" looking car. You’ve got this sleek, tech-focused vibe that feels very 2026. It’s a far cry from the SunEnergy1 colors or the bright green Mountain Dew cars of the late 2010s.
Why Fans Keep Arguing Over Throwbacks
Darlington weekend is basically Christmas for Chase fans. But it’s also the time of year when everyone becomes a critic. Remember the 2025 throwback? Hendrick went with a Ken Schrader nod from 1994.
Some people loved it. Others? Well, they wanted another Bill Elliott tribute.
The reality is that Chase Elliott paint schemes have to balance a lot of stakeholders. You’ve got the Elliott family history, which is sacred. You’ve got NAPA, who has been with him since the Xfinity days. And you’ve got the fans who want something "different" but also want it to look exactly like 1988. It’s an impossible balance.
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The 2022 Best in Show winner at Darlington—the Jimmy Means tribute—is probably the gold standard. It was simple. Blue, yellow, and that iconic number font. That’s the thing about Chase’s cars; they don't need a million gradients or complex "shatter" patterns. They just need to be clean.
The Most Iconic One-Offs
When we talk about the best looks, you can't ignore the "DESI9N TO DRIVE" initiatives. These are cars designed by patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
These schemes are actually some of the most creative things to ever hit the track. In 2025, Rhealynn Mills designed a car that Chase actually took to Victory Lane at Atlanta. It was colorful, heartfelt, and completely broke the "corporate" mold of a typical Cup car.
Then you have the Hooters cars. Man, those are always a hit. The orange and white "Night Owl" schemes or the "Give a Hoot" pink-accented cars for breast cancer awareness are always top sellers for diecast collectors.
A Quick Look at the Fan Favorites:
- The 2020 Championship Car: White and blue with the yellow roof number. This is the one that "lives rent-free" in most fans' heads.
- The 2017 SunEnergy1: That bright orange and blue metallic look that looked like a literal diamond under the sun.
- The 2018 Mountain Dew: The one that won the fan vote for best scheme of the year.
- The 2025 NAPA 100th Anniversary: A special gold-accented scheme for Texas that celebrated a century of NAPA service.
What's Next for the No. 9 Team?
As we move into the heart of the 2026 season, expect more experimentation. The move to Prime Video and the continued evolution of sponsors like UniFirst (who just revealed a very green 2026 look) means the garage is going to look a lot different than it did five years ago.
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If you're looking to track these changes, keep an eye on the official Hendrick Motorsports gallery or the "Jayski" paint scheme archives. They usually get the high-res renders out weeks before the cars actually tech at Daytona.
Pro-tip for fans: If you're buying merchandise, the "primary" look usually stays for the whole season, but the one-off "throwback" or "charity" shirts are usually limited runs. If you see a design you like during the Darlington or Atlanta races, grab it then. They rarely bring those exact designs back for a second year.
The best way to stay ahead of the next Chase Elliott paint schemes reveal is to watch the mid-week "reveal videos" that Hendrick posts on X (formerly Twitter). They’ve started doing these highly produced cinematic clips that show the car being wrapped in the shop, which gives you a much better look at the metallic finishes than a static photo ever could.
Check the 2026 schedule to see which races will feature the Kelley Blue Book or Llumar looks, as those are usually confirmed by February.