HOLY SH*T: Hendrick Motorsports Rejects Elon Musk’s Tesla Ad on the #9 Chevrolet! The Reason Why Will Silence Elon Musk…
Charlotte, NC — In a bombshell move that’s sending shockwaves through NASCAR, tech Twitter, and Wall Street, Hendrick Motorsports has officially rejected a multi-million dollar Tesla ad proposal from Elon Musk — a deal that would have seen the #9 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Chase Elliott, carry Tesla branding for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The offer? Reportedly $200 million over 4 years.
The response? A hard, unapologetic “No.”
And the reason why? It’s already being called the quote of the year.
Tesla Tried to Electrify NASCAR — Literally
According to multiple sources close to the team and leaked sponsorship documents, Elon Musk personally greenlit a bold campaign to introduce Tesla branding into stock car racing — starting with one of the sport’s most beloved teams and drivers.
Here’s what Musk’s camp pitched:
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Full Tesla wrap on the #9 Chevrolet for at least 10 races
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AI-powered pit analytics powered by Tesla Vision
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A “FUTURE POWERED” slogan on the hood
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A potential Tesla test track experience in NASCAR Fan Zones
But in what some are calling the boldest move of the year, Hendrick Motorsports turned it all down. Publicly. Proudly.
Rick Hendrick: “We’re a Chevrolet Team. We Know Who We Are.”
In a press conference that’s already going viral, Rick Hendrick, team owner and NASCAR legend, dropped a bombshell response that instantly turned him into a trending topic:
“This team was built on Chevrolet horsepower, not Silicon Valley promises. We don’t change stripes for clicks.”
“Chase [Elliott] doesn’t need a gimmick on his car. He’s built his brand the old-school way — by winning.”
The crowd of reporters actually applauded. And within minutes, social media exploded.
NASCAR Fans React: “This Is Why We Love Hendrick”
It didn’t take long for hashtags like #NoTeslaOn9, #BuiltNotBought, and #BowtieOverBattery to trend across Twitter/X and TikTok.
Fan Reactions Included:
💬 “Rick Hendrick just told Elon to hit the brakes. HARD.” – @StockCarSavage
💬 “Tesla on a Chevy? That’s NASCAR heresy. Glad they stood tall.” – @PitRowPatriot
💬 “Respect to Chase and Hendrick. No sellout zone.” – @Turn4Truth
Even Chase Elliott chimed in subtly with an Instagram Story showing a Chevy logo, an American flag, and the caption:
“Still riding with the ones who got me here.”
Elon Musk Fires Back (Kind of)
True to form, Elon Musk didn’t stay quiet. Just hours after Hendrick’s rejection, he tweeted:
“Some people fear change. Others build it.”
That was enough to trigger another meme storm, with fans reposting side-by-side images of Elliott’s roaring V8-powered #9 alongside electric sedans captioned:
“Guess which one actually turns left at Daytona.”
Insiders Say: It Was Never Gonna Happen
A senior executive at Hendrick, speaking off the record, said:
“This was a flashy offer. But it was never realistic. We’ve got a decades-deep partnership with Chevrolet. Putting Tesla on that car would be like asking Dale Earnhardt to drive a Prius.”
Another insider added:
“We’re about loyalty. Winning. Legacy. Not viral ads.”
Bigger Picture: NASCAR Isn’t Ready to Be Bought by Tech Bros
This is now the fifth high-profile rejection Elon Musk has faced in the sports world in recent weeks. From the Detroit Lions to 23XI Racing, teams across the board seem to be choosing tradition over tech money.
Racing analyst Kayla Morgan noted:
“Elon Musk underestimated the cultural depth of NASCAR. This isn’t just a sport — it’s a lifestyle. And you can’t rebrand that with a checkbook.”
The Verdict: Hendrick Motorsports Just Took Pole Position in Integrity
While some teams might’ve blinked at a $200 million offer, Hendrick Motorsports just sent a message to the world — not every logo is for sale.
They didn’t just protect the identity of the #9 car — they protected the soul of stock car racing.
So if you were wondering what real loyalty looks like, just take a good long look at Chase Elliott’s unbranded, unbought, untamed Chevrolet as it roars past the checkered flag.
In NASCAR, tradition still wins.
