Axalta Coating Systems makes it début at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 9.
Photo – Hendrick Motorsports

Axalta Coating Systems, formally Dupont, announced today that the company has extended its sponsorship with Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon through 2016.

This season has been the first year that the name Dupont has not been seen on Jeff Gordon’s car in the Sprint Cup series. Earlier this year, Dupont came under new ownership and is renamed as Axalta Coating Systems. Jeff Gordon has sponsored paint brands such as Cromax Pro so far this season in place of the Axalta name. This weekend at Pocono Raceway marks the first time Axalta will appear on the car where he will run the “firestorm” scheme.

Axalta Coating Systems and Hendrick Motorsports announced that the new three-year contract will include Axalta being the primary sponsor for Jeff Gordon ten races a year for the next three season. During the remaining 26 races Axalta will remain an associate sponsor.

Jeff Gordon said in the press release. “I’m so excited that Axalta has decided to move forward with us beyond 2013,” Gordon said. “They’ve been with me since the beginning and I look forward to a lot more racing, some more wins and hopefully another championship with them before it’s all over.”

“And the newly rebranded Axalta company is still comprised of the same people I’ve been working with for more than two decades and I can’t imagine my career without them. They are truly like family to me, (team owner) Rick Hendrick and this No. 24 team. I’m so excited that they’re moving forward with us.”

Dupont, now Axalta Coating Systems, has been with Jeff Gordon since his rookie début in 1992 and has been a part of the Hendrick organization for over 20 years. The duo will stay in tact through Axalta Coating Systems’ transition and this is a good sight to see at a time when loyal sponsors are hard to come by in NASCAR.