Hendrick signs Byron to replace Kahne

Hendrick Motorsports made it official Wednesday, announcing that William Byron will drive its No. 5 Chevrolet beginning next season. Byron, 19, will replace Kasey Kahne.

The new comes a year after Hendrick signed Byron, snatching him away from the Toyota Racing camp. Sponsorship for Byron next season will come from Liberty University, where Byron is currently enrolled, and Axalta Coating Systems, two companies currently supporting him in the Xfinity Series.

The Daytona 500 will mark Byron's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut. He will compete for Rookie of the Year honors.

"It hasn't sunk in yet," said Byron in a team release. "Mr. (Rick) Hendrick has built such a great team. The people at Hendrick Motorsports have dedicated their lives to giving their drivers the best chance to win every weekend. I have a responsibility to them to work hard and put everything I have into this opportunity. They need to know I'm always giving 100 percent, because that's what they do."

Midway through his first Xfinity Series season, Byron has earned three wins (Iowa, Daytona, and Indianapolis) and is looking at being the number one seed in the playoffs. He also leads the Rookie of the Year standings. Last year, Byron competed full-time in the Camping World Truck Series where he won seven races in addition to being named the top rookie.

"When I told my parents that I wanted to drive racecars, they supported me and believed I could do it," continued Byron. "Without them, there's no way this would be possible. Axalta and Liberty University are awesome partners, and I'm so thankful for their faith in me. I'm going to do all I can to make my family, my sponsors and my teammates proud and represent them all in the right way."

Byron will be teammates with seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman.

"At every step, William has proven how quickly he can adapt," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "Some drivers have raw talent and some have a strong work ethic. William has both. It's impressive to see a young guy who never gets rattled and instinctively knows how to communicate with his team. That level of commitment, poise and pure ability is rare at any age. I think he's just scratching the surface."