William Byron to replace Kasey Kahne at Hendrick next year

William Byron will replace Kasey Kahne in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet next season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the team announced on Wednesday.

Byron, 19, is currently a rookie in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and is second in the points standings. He has three wins, including ones at Daytona and Indianapolis, and currently ranks second in points while driving for Hendrick-allied JR Motorsports. He also won seven times — a record for a rookie — in the Truck Series in 2016.

Kahne was released from his contract on Monday just weeks after Kahne won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to clinch a spot in the 2017 playoffs.

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“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Byron said in a statement released by Hendrick Motorsports. “The people at Hendrick Motorsports have dedicated their lives to giving their drivers the best chance to win every weekend. I have a responsibility to them to work hard and put everything I have into this opportunity.”

Byron will join seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman in Hendrick’s four-car Cup lineup next season. Instead of the star-studded group that featured Jeff Gordon, Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. a few years ago, the team will have three drivers under the age of 25 and Johnson, who will turn 42 next month.

“I don’t really have much of a concern,” team owner Rick Hendrick said, adding that Johnson will be a mentor while Gordon and Earnhardt will still have roles with the organization. “So they’ve got a lot of coaches. But the main thing is just not putting too much pressure on them and letting them go out and learn.

“If William continues to do what he’s done in every series he’s been in, he’ll adapt fine and he will learn. You might as well let him learn in what he’s going to be driving for years to come.”

Hendrick said Wednesday that Kahne remains under contract for another year and likely will land at an “alliance” program next season.

“I’m not going to mention the team, but there are several situations that we’re talking to (about) kind of an alliance, which would be good for everyone,” Hendrick said. “We’re working on it. We’ve been working on it. We’ll just see how it develops.”

Details of Byron's multiyear deal will be released at a later date, according to the team statement. Byron will bring his two primary sponsors for his Xfinity Series car -- Axalta Coating Systems and Liberty University – with him to his Cup ride.

Contributing: The Associated Press