Chase Elliott is heading into 2026 with a car that looks as different as his sponsorship lineup feels, trading one of his most familiar backers for a bold new visual identity. The former Cup Series champion is not just swapping paint, he is signaling how the business side of his career is evolving after a high profile shakeup with a major partner.

The fresh livery, tied to one of NASCAR’s most powerful commercial players, gives Elliott a chance to reset his image at the front of the field while reminding the garage that his market power remains intact. I see this as a pivotal moment in which design, sponsorship strategy, and competitive expectations all intersect on the No. 9 Chevrolet.

A major sponsor exits and the door opens for a new power player

The backdrop to Elliott’s revamped look is a significant change in his sponsorship portfolio, one that underscored how even the sport’s most bankable names are not immune to turnover. Earlier in the current sponsorship cycle, Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports saw a key partner step away from its role on the No. 9 in the NASCAR Cup Series, a development that was highlighted around the Nashville Superspeedway weekend and framed as a disappointing shift for one of the sport’s premier teams. Reporting on that change made clear that losing a long standing backer in the middle of Elliott’s prime was more than a cosmetic tweak, it was a reminder of how fluid the business landscape can be for even the most popular driver in NASCAR’s top division, as noted in coverage of his sponsor loss at Nashville Superspeedway.

That exit created both a financial and branding gap, but it also opened space for a different kind of partner to step in, one with ambitions that stretch beyond traditional hood logos and hospitality tents. The new arrangement, described as a “$2.3 Trillion Giant Makes Stunning NASCAR Power Play With Chase Elliott for 2026,” reflects how a massive player in the financial world is choosing Elliott as a central piece of its motorsports strategy, a move that underscores his status as “the most popular driver in NASCA” and positions him as a key asset in the sport’s future commercial growth, according to the $2.3 Trillion power play report. In practical terms, that means Elliott’s new look is not just about fresh colors, it is about aligning his brand with a sponsor that has the scale to influence how NASCAR connects with fans and investors over the long term.

The dramatic redesign of Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet

Visually, the most striking change for 2026 is the way Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet will stand out from its previous iterations, particularly in partnership with one of NASCAR’s major backers. Coverage of the updated scheme notes that the 9 Chevrolet will look “noticeably different” when it hits the track, with a dramatic shift in how the sponsor’s presence is expressed on the car and a clear intent to break from the more conservative designs that have defined much of Elliott’s Cup Series tenure. That reporting describes the change as a significant departure tied directly to the priorities of a major NASCAR aligned partner, underscoring that this is not a minor refresh but a deliberate reimagining of how Elliott’s car represents that brand on race day, as detailed in analysis of the dramatic change to his scheme.

Fans have already seen hints of how aggressive Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports are willing to be with their paint choices. A recent reveal of his 2026 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet drew attention for how bold the design looked compared with past Napa liveries, with one breakdown of the scheme praising how “hendrickk absolutely cooked” the new look and spotlighting the way the Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet leans into sharper lines and more modern color blocking, as seen in the Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet preview. When I put that alongside the reporting on the overhaul tied to NASCAR’s major backer, the throughline is clear: Elliott’s camp is embracing a more assertive visual identity across multiple sponsors, using the car’s appearance as a statement about where the No. 9 program is headed competitively and commercially.

Prime Video and the streaming era’s imprint on the No. 9

Another layer to Elliott’s evolving look is the growing presence of Prime Video on his car, a partnership that reflects how streaming platforms are embedding themselves deeper into NASCAR’s ecosystem. Hendrick Motorsports has confirmed that Prime Video will serve as a primary sponsor for Elliott in a three race program, with the new car livery revealed on social media and positioned to lead directly into the platform’s coverage as NASCAR’s first fully direct to consumer media partner. That arrangement means the same brand that fans see on their screens will be emblazoned on Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet, creating a tight loop between broadcast, digital engagement, and on track identity, as outlined in the team’s announcement of Prime Video joining Elliott.

The streaming giant’s involvement is not a one off experiment. Additional reporting notes that Prime Video will return to Chase Elliott For Three Race Sponsorship in 2026, reinforcing that this is a multi year commitment rather than a short promotional splash. In that coverage, Hendrick Motorsports is again central, with the team confirming that Prime Video will be back on the No. 9 for a trio of events, a sign that both sides see value in deepening the relationship and using Elliott’s popularity to drive awareness for the platform’s NASCAR content, as described in the update that Prime Video Returns to his car. For Elliott, that means his new look is not just about traditional sponsors, it is about aligning with a media partner that is reshaping how fans watch the sport, and that synergy could prove especially powerful as NASCAR leans further into streaming distribution.

Special edition schemes and the “new look” trend across 2026

Beyond the headline grabbing primary sponsor changes, Elliott’s 2026 calendar is dotted with special edition schemes that reinforce how central his car’s appearance has become to his overall brand. One report details how the 2020 Cup Series champion and reigning Most Popular Driver Award winner has already given fans a first glimpse of a bold green based livery that will run in five NASCAR races in 2026, with the design featuring a green base accented by black, white, and other contrasting elements on his Chevrolet. That scheme is scheduled to appear at tracks such as Darlington Raceway and Phoenix Raceway’s Xfinity 500, turning those events into showcases for a more daring visual approach that still fits within the broader Hendrick Motorsports aesthetic, according to the breakdown of how Elliott gives first glimpse of that new look.

On top of that five race program, Elliott is also slated to roll out another distinct design for two NASCAR Cup events next season, a pairing that has been framed as a “new year, new look” moment for the No. 9. Reporting on that plan notes that he will have a different appearance for those two races, again emphasizing how intentional the team is about tailoring the car’s identity to specific weekends and sponsor priorities, as highlighted in Nate Ryan’s Story on the two race look. When I connect those dots with the broader redesign tied to NASCAR’s major backer and the refreshed Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet, a pattern emerges: Elliott and Hendrick are using 2026 as a canvas for multiple, carefully curated schemes that keep the No. 9 visually fresh while giving each sponsor a distinct moment in the spotlight.

Balancing legacy partners with a changing sponsorship landscape

All of these changes are unfolding against the backdrop of Elliott’s long running relationships, particularly with NAPA AUTO PARTS, which has been synonymous with his Cup Series identity since he moved into the No. 9. NAPA AUTO PARTS previously announced that it would remain a primary sponsor of Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team through 2022, a commitment that underscored how central that partnership was to both sides and how much equity had been built around the blue and yellow scheme, as confirmed when NAPA AUTO PARTS said it would stay with Chase Elliott and the No. Even as new sponsors arrive and fresh designs debut, that history matters, because it shows how Elliott’s brand has been built on a foundation of stability that now has to coexist with a more fragmented, event specific model.

The challenge for Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports is to balance that legacy with the realities of a sponsorship market that increasingly favors flexible, multi partner lineups. The arrival of a $2.3 Trillion financial giant, the expansion of Prime Video’s three race program, and the proliferation of special schemes for two race and five race runs all point to a future in which no single logo dominates the No. 9 for an entire season. Instead, Elliott’s “striking new look” is really a series of looks, each tailored to a different partner’s goals but unified by his status as the face of the car and, in many ways, a face of the sport. Unverified based on available sources whether every one of these deals extends beyond 2026, but the direction is unmistakable: Elliott’s paint schemes have become a rolling billboard for how NASCAR’s commercial model is evolving, and his ability to carry that complexity with ease may be as important as any adjustment he makes behind the wheel.