Dale Earnhardt Jr. Helps Chase Elliott Reclaim Iconic No. 9

Dale Earnhardt Jr. convinced Chase Elliott to switch to the iconic No. 9 car in 2018, a move that honored Bill Elliott’s legacy and brought the number back to Hendrick Motorsports. Elliott had initially felt hesitant to ask Rick Hendrick for another favor after taking over Jeff Gordon’s No. 24, but Earnhardt Jr. saw the opportunity and pushed for the change.

How Dale Earnhardt Jr. Made the No. 9 Switch Happen

Elliott had raced the No. 9 throughout his junior career, idolizing his uncle Bill Elliott’s legendary runs in the car. When Jeff Gordon retired in 2015, Elliott inherited the No. 24, but the number never felt like his own. By 2018, another driver shuffle at Hendrick Motorsports opened a chance for Elliott to reclaim the No. 9.

Earnhardt Jr. stepped in, telling Elliott, 'Now is the time to do it. It fits. It’s you, it’s your family.' He also spoke directly to Rick Hendrick, arguing that the move would benefit NASCAR and its fans. To make it work, Earnhardt Jr. suggested that rookie William Byron take over the No. 24, freeing up the No. 9 for Elliott.

Why the No. 9 Meant So Much to Chase Elliott

The No. 9 held deep personal significance for Elliott. His uncle, Bill Elliott, had won the 1988 Cup Series championship in the car and earned a record 16 Most Popular Driver awards. For Chase, driving the No. 9 felt like coming home.

Elliott admitted he felt indebted to Rick Hendrick and didn’t want to ask for another favor. But Earnhardt Jr.’s intervention changed his mind. 'Dale Jr. is the reason for the switch,' Elliott later said. 'I’m thankful for it because it definitely feels like home.'

The Legacy of the No. 9 at Hendrick Motorsports

The move also carried irony. While Earnhardt Jr. pushed Elliott to embrace the No. 9, he himself had avoided racing under his father’s legendary No. 3, fearing the pressure. Yet he recognized that the No. 9 belonged with Elliott in a way that made sense.

Today, Elliott continues to build on the Elliott family legacy in the No. 9, proving Earnhardt Jr.’s instincts were right. The number’s return to Hendrick Motorsports remains one of the most meaningful changes in modern NASCAR history.