All in the family: Chase Elliott to drive No. 9 next season, William Byron to the 24

One of the unique facets of NASCAR is how it emphasizes generational bonds, and Hendrick Motorsports is taking advantage of a great one for next season.

NASCAR fans have had two seasons to get accustomed to Chase Elliott in the No. 24 for Hendrick Motorsports, but they’re going to have to adjust to seeing him in a new number next year. Fortunately, it’s one that is already associated with his last name.

As reported by ESPN, Chase Elliott will drive the No. 9 Chevrolet next season for Hendrick, while William Byron moves into the 24 made famous by Jeff Gordon. It was originally thought Byron would drive the No. 5 currently piloted by Kasey Kahne, who is parting ways with the team at the end of the current season.

Elliott’s dad, Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, drove the No. 9 for many years in what is now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, both at the beginning of his career with Elliott Racing and Melling Racing and later for Evernham Motorsports.

The ESPN piece notes that fans have already expressed their desire to see Chase Elliott in the No. 9, which has been free for several years after Richard Petty Motorsports stopped using it. He seemed well aware of that sentiment and matched it with some of his own in a press release.

"“I wasn’t sure I’d ever drive the 9 again. It’s a huge deal to my family and everyone back home [in Georgia], and I hope all of our fans will be pumped to see it back on the race track. There’s a legacy attached to that number, and I want to carry it on.”"

Next: Could Kasey Kahne resurface at Furniture Row?

The departing No. 5, however, also has its fair share of history with Hendrick, as it’s the first number the team ever used way back in the ’80s. It achieved its greatest success with Terry Labonte winning championships at the wheel, but has also been driven by the likes of Geoff Bodine, Ricky Rudd, Kyle Busch and Mark Martin.