Chase Elliott is set to make NASCAR return at Martinsville after missing 6 races due to a freak snowboarding accident
Chase Elliott's Martinsville race will mark his 260th start in the Cup Series.
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Chase Elliott. Image via NEWS10 ABC.
Chase Elliott injured his left leg in a snowboarding accident in Colorado and underwent surgery due to his fractured tibia. It was right before NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas. As a result of that, he missed the last six NASCAR Cup races. Josh Berry ran five of those races, and Jordon Taylor ran the race at COTA. After a solid recovery, Elliott will return to racing this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
The driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 tested this week in the Chevrolet Driver-in-the-Loop simulator in Concord. It was right before he decided to return to Martinsville. Team Hendrick Motorsports is thrilled to have their driver back. Team owner Rick Hendrick made a statement on Chase Elliott’s return. He also revealed that Elliott wants to return to the race track and compete for wins.
Rick Hendrick stated, “We’re looking forward to having Chase back in his race car to pick up where he left off. Since the injury, he’s worked extremely hard and focused all his time and energy on returning to the No. 9 team. Throughout the last six weeks, he’s stayed fully engaged with everything we’re doing, and we know he’s chomping at the bit to get on the racetrack and compete for wins.”
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Chase Elliott remains eligible for the Cup Series championship
Josh Berry, who filled in for Chase Elliott in five races, had the best finish at the Richmond Raceway, he came second. On the other hand, Jordon Taylor started fourth and finished 24th in his Cup Race debut at the Circuit of Americas. The team does not have to worry anymore, as their star driver is back. NASCAR granted Elliott a medical waiver. He remains eligible for the championship.
Chase Elliott could earn points to make the playoffs, but he will have to win at least one race to obtain a spot. A similar incident happened in 2015. Kyle Busch missed ten races due to a broken leg. But he successfully won the Cup Series championship. It is no longer required to be in the top 30 in driver’s points standings to be eligible for playoffs. So it makes it a bit easy for Elliott.
Alan Gustafson, the crew chief of Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Chase Elliot, will return to Martinsville. He served a four-week suspension after the four Hendrick teams made illegal modifications to the hood louvers. The Cup Winning duo of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, Gustafson and Elliott, will rejoin this weekend.
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Sugantha Meena
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