Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Loving cup Series driver Kyle Larson has finally landed external sponsors for the 2021 flavour, with Cincinnati Inc. and Freightliner joining the #5 squad.

Kyle Larson hasn’t competed in a NASCAR Cup Serial race in well-nigh 11 months, with his near recent start coming at Phoenix Raceway early terminal March before the coronavirus pandemic hitting and caused an unexpected 10-week hiatus in live action.

During that hiatus, the then-Chip Ganassi Racing driver of the #42 Chevrolet was competing in an iRacing event and uttered a racial slur.

That ready off a disastrous chain of events, most notably NASCAR suspending the 28-twelvemonth-one-time Elk Grove, California native indefinitely and multiple sponsors cutting ties with him, which ultimately culminated with Chip Ganassi being forced to burn him and replacing him with 2003 champion Matt Kenseth.

Larson worked hard to get himself reinstated by NASCAR, and he did a lot of work behind the scenes in regard to personal growth.

That got him back in the Cup Series for the 2021 season with Hendrick Motorsports as the replacement for seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who retired later on last flavour.

Larson is ready to drive the #v Chevrolet this season, as Alex Bowman moved from the squad’s #88 Chevrolet to Johnson’due south #48 Chevrolet. The number 5, which hadn’t been used since Kasey Kahne’s last season with the squad in 2017, replaced the number 88. But upwards until now, he hadn’t been able to land whatever external sponsors, which wasn’t unexpected, given the nature of what he did to end up out of the sport for almost a full year.

At present that has changed.

Machine tool maker Cincinnati Inc. and heavy-duty truck manufacturer Freightliner, two existing Hendrick Motorsports partners, have announced the expansion of their NASCAR programs to serve as the chief sponsor of the #5 Chevrolet for two races each throughout the 36-race 2021 season.

Hither is what Larson had to say about adding these sponsors in a team release.

“I’m excited Cincinnati and Freightliner have increased their partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and are at present part of the No. 5 team. [Coiffure chief] Cliff [Daniels] has congenital a squad that I know can battle for wins on a weekly ground. With the support of great partners like Cincinnati and Freightliner, I tin’t await to get back to the rail and become to work. Information technology’south corking to accept them along for the ride.”

Here is what team owner Rick Hendrick had to add together.

“Nosotros’re pleased to have Cincinnati and Freightliner abound their corresponding partnerships with the states. The best manner we can show our appreciation is with loftier functioning on and off the racetrack. NASCAR has tremendous momentum going into 2021, and Kyle and the No. 5 coiffure will certainly be one of the almost exciting teams to watch this year. Nosotros look forward to seeing Cincinnati and Freightliner at the front of the field with them.”

Tim Warning, president and CEO of Cincinnati Inc., had this to say.

“We are very happy to announce the expansion of our NASCAR program in 2021. Our entire squad takes great pride in knowing that Cincinnati machines contribute to the success of Hendrick Motorsports on the racetrack, including last year’s Cup Series championship. It was also extremely powerful to meet the Cincinnati car in victory lane at Auto Gild Speedway in 2020, which ignited incredible enthusiasm inside our company and with our customers. Nosotros’re looking forward to building a potent relationship with Kyle and sharing in the excitement of winning more than races with the No. 5 team.”

Finally, Pete Hobbs, Freightliner’s vice president of on-highway market development, had this to add.

“We take great pride in growing our relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and expanding our back up of Kyle Larson and his team. Freightliner is defended to delivering efficiency and performance to our customers, and it’s how we ready the pace for the residue of our manufacture. We look frontwards to cheering on the No. 5 this season.”

The 2021 season is scheduled to go underway adjacent Sunday, February 14 with the 63rd annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Play a trick on is set up to circulate the race live beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.