Axalta To Move To Dale Jr.’s No. 88 After Jeff Gordon’s Retirement

One of Jeff Gordon's longtime sponsors, Axalta, will shift to backing Dale Earnhardt Jr. beginning next season, Hendrick Motorsports announced Tuesday.

Axalta will serve as Earnhardt's primary sponsor in 13 Sprint Cup races annually through the 2018 season. That is an increase of three races per season over its current deal with Gordon. The company will also act as a continual major associate sponsor on Earnhardt's No. 88 car.

Largely through the DuPont brand, Gordon has been associated with Axalta since his 1992 debut in NASCAR's premier series with the brightly colored No. 24 car becoming one of the most iconic paint schemes in the sport's history. Axalta purchased DuPont in 2013.

Gordon, a four-time Cup Series champion, is retiring at the conclusion of the current season. He will continue as an Axalta spokesperson and global business advisor.

"We began a journey 23 years ago with Hendrick Motorsports and a young driver named Jeff Gordon," Axalta vice president Nigel Budden said. "Eighty poles, 92 wins and four championships later, we are proud of the run we've had with Jeff. Now, we are delighted to continue our relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and to adorn the hood of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevy SS with the Axalta logo in 2016.

"As our slogan says, ‘We Paint Winners,' and by joining Dale we will continue to do so for years to come."