Legacy lives: Byron to the 24, Elliott to drive the 9

Hendrick Motorsports is changing things up.

Announced Tuesday night, William Byron will drive the No. 24 Chevrolet in 2018 while Chase Elliott brings the No. 9 back to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The team is dubbing the change #LegacyLives, with the new era beginning next year.

In every number lives a legacy. A new era begins in 2018.#LegacyLivespic.twitter.com/ZrfoQEA6E5— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick)August 29, 2017

For Byron, who is replacing Kasey Kahne, he takes the car number Elliott inherited from Jeff Gordon. The No. 24 is one of the most iconic cars in NASCAR and ironically, Byron begins his rookie Cup Series season at the same age Gordon was in his 1992 debut - 20.

"Jeff and Jimmie [Johnson] are the drivers I've always watched most closely and tried to learn from," Byron said. "I didn't think I could be more motivated, but when Mr. Hendrick called to tell me [about driving the No. 24], it took things to another level. I have so much respect for all the people who have contributed to the success of the '24.' I know it's rare to have the chance to be part of something like this. I'm going to make the most of it."

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Although he will drive the No. 24, Byron will work with the group that is currently fielding the No. 5 car. Elliott's No. 9 team will be the group that is fielding his current car.

Next year will be the first time Hendrick Motorsports has run a No. 9 in Cup Series competition. It's a number that holds personal significance to Elliott as his father, Bill Elliott, used the number during his Hall of Fame career, which included winning the 1988 championship.

Chase Elliott also used the number during his two Xfinity Series seasons in 2014 and 2015, winning four races. In 2014, Elliott captured the series championship.

"I wasn't sure I'd ever drive the '9' again," Chase Elliott said. "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. I think it's awesome that Hendrick Motorsports and NAPA wanted to do this. It's impossible not to be excited."

With this change, Hendrick Motorsports will not field a No. 5 car next year. The number was the first one team owner Rick Hendrick ran in NASCAR and it has competed full-time since the team was founded in 1984. Terry Labonte drove the 5 car to the 1996 championship.

"That was by far the hardest part [of the car number decisions]," Hendrick said. "The '5' means so much to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and to a lot of our fans. The memories and the history will always be there, and I won't rule out bringing it back some day. Never say never."

Jimmie Johnson will remain in the No. 48 Chevrolet next year. Alex Bowman will take over the No. 88 Chevrolet for the retiring Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"I know what the '9' means to Chase and his whole family," Hendrick said. "They've contributed so much to our sport, and I'm happy we can honor that history by bringing the number back. I think fans will really love seeing it out there. I told Chase we'd only do it if he promised to win a bunch of races, so I'm going to hold him to that.

"The 'fit factor' is something I've always believed in, and that's what I see with William and our organization. He reminds me a lot of Jeff at that age with regard to being a special talent and having a great head on his shoulders. But William is also his own person with his own career ahead of him. It's going to be fun to watch him jump in the '24' and show what he's capable of."