Is Axalta Leaving NASCAR? William Byron Set for Final Ride With Longtime Sponsor
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Axalta’s name is preparing to disappear from William Byron’s No.24 Chevrolet, but that does not necessarily mean the company is leaving NASCAR. Hendrick Motorsports has unveiled a special paint scheme for the October 18 race at Phoenix Raceway, which is being billed as the final appearance of the Axalta brand on Byron’s car.
The design pays tribute to Jeff Gordon’s iconic No.24 Chevrolet, bringing a piece of NASCAR history back to the track before the company’s planned rebrand. To understand why this moment matters, it helps to look at a partnership that has spanned more than three decades, multiple drivers and some of the sport’s biggest victories.
Pre-orders are open for the No. 24 William Byron Axalta Final Ride die-cast!
➡️ https://t.co/qMgL9hCxv9pic.twitter.com/N33uvZwG1J
— Lionel Racing (@Lionel_Racing) October 13, 2026
The story began in November 1992, when DuPont became a sponsor of a young Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports. The partnership became synonymous with Gordon’s rainbow-colored No.24 Chevrolet, nicknamed the “Rainbow Warrior.” Together, they won four Cup Series championships, in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001, and celebrated 93 race victories.
In 2013, DuPont’s performance coatings business was sold to The Carlyle Group and became Axalta Coating Systems. The name changed, but the relationship with Hendrick remained. Gordon’s rainbow colors gave way to the red, yellow and black flames that became another recognizable look for the No.24 car.
Why Is Axalta’s Name Disappearing From NASCAR?
Jun 27, 2026; Sonoma, California, USA; Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron (24) races on a practice lap at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
When Gordon stepped away from full-time racing after the 2015 season, Axalta stayed with Hendrick Motorsports. The company became a primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No.88 Chevrolet in 2016 and 2017 before continuing its association with the No.24 through William Byron, who took over the car in 2018. Byron has since added major milestones of his own, including back-to-back Daytona 500 victories in 2024 and 2025.
Now, another corporate change is bringing the Axalta era to a turning point. Axalta and Dutch coatings company AkzoNobel announced a planned all-stock merger in November 2025. The combined business is expected to adopt a new name and ticker symbol, with the transaction anticipated to close in late 2026 or early 2027, subject to the remaining conditions.
That does not automatically mean the sponsorship is ending. Axalta and Hendrick Motorsports announced an extension in 2020 that was set to run through the 2027 season, with Axalta scheduled to sponsor Byron’s car for 14 Cup Series raceseach year beginning in 2021. As of October 14, the exact branding and sponsorship arrangements for 2027 have not been fully detailed in the sources reviewed.
The Phoenix paint scheme is therefore more than a nostalgic design. It’s the end of the Axalta name on a car that has carried the partnership through the Gordon, Earnhardt Jr. and Byron eras. The company behind the sponsorship may continue under a different identity, but the familiar branding is preparing to take its final bow.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.