Although Liberty University has stood shoulder to shoulder with William Byron longer than most partners in the garage, that once-unshakable alliance is clearly tightening its belt. The educational institution has backed Byron for more than a decade, first crossing paths with him during his formative years in Late Models before remaining in lockstep through the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

When Byron reached the NASCAR Cup Series, Liberty followed him there as well, reinforcing a relationship built on continuity rather than convenience. Over the past two seasons, however, the footprint of that sponsorship has steadily receded.

On Thursday, Hendrick Motorsports and Liberty University jointly confirmed that the school will serve as the primary sponsor of Byron’s Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in only three NASCAR Cup Series races during the upcoming season.

The Liberty branding will appear at Watkins Glen International on May 10, Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, and Martinsville Speedway on November 1. That announcement effectively slices the program in half compared to 2025, when Liberty occupied six races on the No. 24 Chevrolet.

The news was rolled out publicly through a post on X, which read, “Hey LibertyU and @TeamHendrick fans! 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion and two-time DAYTONA 500 winner @WilliamByron will be racing the LU24 Chevrolet for three races in 2026 – check out the schedule now!”

This is the second consecutive season in which Liberty University has reduced its primary presence on Byron’s car. After appearing in 12 races during the 2024 campaign, the school cut that commitment to six events for 2025. The newly announced three-race slate for 2026 confirms an even more downward trajectory rather than a temporary adjustment.

Despite the scaled-back role of Liberty University, Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet will not be short on support. Alongside Liberty’s limited appearances in 2026, the Hendrick Motorsports driver will also carry sponsorship from Raptor Coatings, Valvoline, Anduril, All-Pro Auto Reconditioning, Phorm Energy, Cincinnati Inc., and Z by HP, ensuring a diversified commercial lineup across the season.

Liberty University’s decision arrives against a backdrop of continuous turbulence away from the racetrack. While enrollment numbers remain at an all-time high, the institution has endured persistent negative attention over the past four years. Those issues have extended well beyond public relations discomfort, cutting into both reputation and finances.

The most severe blow came in 2024, when Liberty University was hit with a record $14 million federal fine for violating the Clery Act.

Federal authorities concluded that the school had underreported campus crimes, citing allegations that reporting of sexual violence was discouraged and that safety protocols were mishandled. The fallout placed the university under federal monitoring through 2026, amplifying scrutiny at a critical moment.

Then again, legal trouble followed in 2025, when the university had to agree to a $15 million settlement with former president Jerry Falwell Jr. stemming from a 2020 scandal.

By 2025, Liberty University found itself navigating athletic, legal, and reputational challenges rather than suffering outright financial collapse. Even so, the cumulative pressure offers a plausible explanation for the reduced investment in NASCAR.

Against that context, the decision to trim the #24 driver‘s sponsorship comes as little shock, even though the Hendrick Motorsports driver has finished inside the top four in each of the past three seasons and captured back-to-back Daytona 500 wins in 2024 and 2025.

CONCORD, N.C. – Want to take home a piece of Jeff Gordon’s firesuit from 2015? Hendrick Motorsports has teamed up with Panini America to make that happen for one lucky fan. 

RELATED: See Chase Elliott’s No. 9 KBB Chevrolet for 2026

Now inserted in the latest line of Panini National Treasures Racing is a 1 of 1 redemption card to take home a piece of this special item in trading card form. Once found, the winner will have the card hand delivered by Gordon himself.

“Panini has been a great partner of ours when you look at collectibles and you look at the card space and relationship with them. For a couple years we’ve been talking about doing something that takes it to another level, and this certainly does that in a big way,” Gordon said of the card.

“Having a 1 of 1 card, I know how passionate our fans are around collecting and getting autographs and things that are signed for fans of mine, fans of NASCAR and I don’t know if there’s been a single piece of memorabilia over the years that’s going to be more sought after than this one. So whoever pulls that card, that’s going to be an extra special day. I wish we could capture that moment when we open the pack, but what we are going to be able to do is hand deliver to that special fan that pulls this card and that’s going to be really exciting for me.

What’s Happening?

As teams in NASCAR’s two other National Series continue to finalize their rosters for 2026, one series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, still has quite a few open seats in its field.

• This article will focus on rides that are known to have openings, rather than those that currently sit in an unknown status.
• As of press time, several teams have yet to announce a new driver or returning driver for several rides, such as the TRICON Garage No. 5 or Spire Motorsports No. 77.
• Fortunately, we do know that a handful of rides are currently open, as there are several seats that are either new or have seen their former driver promoted or signed to another team.

No. 14 | Kaulig Racing | New Entry

The No. 14 truck remains as one of the final mysteries of Ram Trucks’ 2026 return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition.

Since June, when Kaulig Racing first announced its intentions to field five full-time Ram Trucks during the upcoming Truck Series Season, the team has announced three full-time drivers and a fourth truck reserved for ‘free agent drivers’.

The final truck, the No. 14, is rumored to be reserved for the winner or winners of a reality TV show competition that pits grassroots racers against one another for a spot at Kaulig in 2026. As of mid-December, neither the reality show nor the drivers competing in the show have been officially announced.

No. 71 | Spire Motorsports | Formerly Driven by: Rajah Caruth

Spire Motorsports began the 2025 season with four full-time trucks, after bringing in yet another part-time ‘All-Star’ truck, the No. 07.  Eventually, the team would trim that down to three, cutting out the No. 07, while reshuffling their roster for the remainder of the season.

Entering the offseason, there were lingering rumors that the team could continue to cut down its lineup for 2026. Still, these plans have yet to be announced, and, despite fan speculation, it does not look like Spire will exit the series entirely any time soon.

Nonetheless, their 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff ride, the No. 71, is open thanks to the promotion of Rajah Caruth to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Though they could opt for a veteran driver, there are plenty of young drivers in the Chevrolet system that could take over the ride if it returns in 2026.

No. 98 | ThorSport Racing | Formerly Driven by: Ty Majeski

Ford’s top NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team has an opening entering the 2026 season, thanks in part to the retirement of longtime ThorSport Racing driver Matt Crafton.

Rather than hire a new face to pilot the No. 88 truck that the team has built itself around, ThorSport opted to move 2024 truck series champion, Majeski, out of his No. 98 and into the No. 88.

There are a few rumors as to who could take over the No. 98 truck, though. In the opinion of many online fans, the team’s 2025 part-time drivers, like Luke Fenhaus and Luke Baldwin, seem like obvious potential candidates.

No. TBA | Halmar Friesen Racing | New Entry

Towards the end of the 2025 season, Halmar Friesen Racing Crew Chief Jimmy Villenueve confirmed the team’s intentions to bring on a second full-time truck for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. 

This would be a follow-up to the team’s part-time effort this past season, the No. 62, which entered seven races for drivers Wesley Slimp, Cole Butcher, and Mike Christopher, Jr.

There are very few rumors as to who will drive the second truck for the team in 2026, though Slimp and Butcher could be a potential option for the Toyota team, alongside a few other names in the Toyota pipeline.

This article will be updated throughout the 2025-26 offseason.

MOORESVILLE, NC, January 17, 2025 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Patrick Emerling today announced he is partnering with GOAT Power Bikes for the The LiUNA! NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025.

“GOAT Power Bikes is thrilled to partner with Snow Belt MGMT to sponsor Patrick Emerling for the NASCAR Xfinity Series as the primary sponsor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and as an associate sponsor for the 2025 season,” said GOAT Power Bikes owner Bryson Goodman. Patrick embodies the drive, precision, and passion that align perfectly with our brand values, and we’re excited to support him as he races to success this season. Together, we’re charging ahead, both on the track and beyond.”

Frequently described as “The Harley Davidson of E-Bike Brands,” GOAT Power Bikes leads the charge for building powerful, affordable, and reliable e-bikes that empower riders to conquer any terrain. GOAT’s base model bikes have a 48MPH top speed with a price point of under $2,800, making them the best bang for your buck for anything in its class.

Based in San Diego, California, GOAT Power Bikes are designed with cutting-edge technology and built for adventure. Whether navigating city streets, exploring rugged trails, or cruising along the coast, GOAT Power Bikes inspires riders to embrace the freedom of the open road and redefine their limits.

“I’m stoked to partner with GOAT,” said Emerling. “I love anything with a motor and grew up riding dirt bikes, so these e-bikes are perfect for me. I usually race on four wheels, but I’ll do it on two. GOAT’s e-bikes are incredible, and I can’t wait to introduce them to the NASCAR fanbase.”

GOAT is offering fans a 5% discount on purchases with code NASCAR.

Visit https://www.goatpowerbikes.com to see their full lineup of e-bikes.

Emerling will make an announcement on his full 2025 season plans shortly.

The LiUNA! NASCAR Xfinity Series Race (200 laps | 300 miles) is the fifth of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2025 schedule. Practice starts on Friday, March 14 at 3:05 p.m. immediately followed by qualifying. The field is set to take the green flag the next day at 1:30 p.m. with live coverage on The CW, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

For more information on Patrick Emerling, visit https://www.patrickemerlingracing.com or follow him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PatrickEmerling07), X (https://twitter.com/PatrickEmerling) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/patrickemerling).

Source: Snow Belt MGMT

“Animosity ends with accountability.”

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports recently settled their lawsuit against NASCAR. Post settlement, all teams will be offered to sign a new evergreen charter agreement. This will make charters permanent.

Charters are now franchises with teams sharing a portion of revenue. They also guarantee a starting position in every race for the 36 charter holders.

NASCAR lawsuit settled; Comments from both sides

Back in October 2024, Hamlin stated via X, “While censorship is a big topic in today’s media world, Channel 90 might be the poster child.”

He added, “An interview didn’t go the way they hoped after our attorney continued to state fact after fact even tho they tried their best to refute, they have since edited/deleted that interview off of their channels because the narrative doesn’t fit their beliefs. If that doesn’t convince you of the bias then nothing will.”

The settlement is a win for the sport as a whole. But, Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing is circling back…

Fast forward to 2025: Hamlin now expects an apology

Hamlin hasn’t forgotten about that moment from last year…

Hamlin asked Larry Mcreynolds on Tuesday, “Good morning. Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?”

“I believe it was ‘how dare them for trying to come in and change the sport. 23XI hasn’t been around long enough and FRM wasn’t good enough.’ Also how about ‘I dont know what their problem is, 13 other teams signed it.’ Just to name a few examples.”

“Well because I believe that once the actual facts and documents were released it was contradictory to the narrative that was being pushed. Larry is a very hard working analyst. Hopefully he took the time to analyze the situation post settlement and revise his thoughts.”

“Animosity ends with accountability.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr predicts a surge in the cost of NASCAR charters

Links

NASCAR | 23XI Racing | Front Row Motorsports

Liberty University (LibertyU), one of the founding partners of William Byron’s career in NASCAR, is significantly scaling back its sponsorship of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for a second consecutive year.

The educational institution, along with Hendrick Motorsports, confirmed on Wednesday that it would be sponsoring the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Byron in three NASCAR Cup Series events for the upcoming season — slashing in half the six-race program the school occupied in 2025.

Hey LibertyU and @TeamHendrick fans! 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion and two-time DAYTONA 500 winner @WilliamByron will be racing the LU24 Chevrolet for three races in 2026 – check out the schedule now! https://t.co/yIn7qcr2hQ pic.twitter.com/iSW6QMGa7V

— Liberty University (@LibertyU) December 17, 2025

This marks the second straight campaign that LibertyU has cut its primary sponsorship program for Byron in half, slashing its presence on the No. 24 Chevrolet to six races for 2025, after sponsoring 12 races in 2024.

Byron, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season champion, will be carrying the colors of his long-time partner, LibertyU, at Watkins Glen International (May 10), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26), and Martinsville Speedway (November 1).

Liberty University has been a major sponsorship partner of William Byron for more than a decade, adorning his racecars as he climbed through the ranks of Late Models, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and into the NASCAR Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in the history of the sport.

In his eight seasons competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron has been to Victory Lane 16 times — thrice with Liberty University on board the No. 24 Chevrolet (Daytona 2020, Atlanta 2022, Texas 2023).

Between the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and K&N Pro Series East (now ARCA Menards Series East), Byron has been to Victory Lane a total of 13 times with Liberty University serving as the primary sponsor of his racecar.

The 28-year-old driver has proven himself as a perennial championship contender in the NASCAR Cup Series, putting his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team into the Championship 4 in each of the last three seasons. Byron has three four top-six points finishes and five top-10 points finishes.

In addition to the three-race sponsorship for Liberty University on the No. 24 Chevrolet in 2026, William Byron will also have backing from Raptor Coatings, Valvoline, Anduril, All-Pro Auto Reconditioning, Phorm Energy, Cincinnati Inc, and Z by HP.