Nationwide is on Dale Junior's side (even more)

   Nationwide Insurance announced Friday it has expanded its three-year relationship with Hendrick Motorsports to become the majority sponsor of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Chevrolet team beginning with the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

   In May, Nationwide announced it would become a part-time primary sponsor of Earnhardt's team but has now increased its sponsorship to 21 Sprint Cup Series events, including the Daytona 500, for each of the next three seasons.

   Nationwide is also sponsoring Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevrolet in Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

   The extra races became available when current sponsor National Guard announced it was discontinuing its motorsports sponsorships in NASCAR and IndyCar next season.

   “Representing the National Guard and its 'Citizen Soldiers' is an extraordinary honor and source of pride for our entire organization. Communication is ongoing with regard to the future of the sponsorship, which is contracted through the 2015 season," HMS said in a statement.