Jeff Gordon urges drivers to be ‘smart and wise’ about non-NASCAR activities
Hendrick Motorsports still insists that their drivers are free to do non-NASCAR activities despite heavy blows due to injuries.
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Jeff Gordon (Via IMAGO)
Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon has pointed out that NASCAR drivers should be wise and smart about their decisions over non-NASCAR activities. His team, Hendrick Motorsports, suffered big time in the 2023 season after their drivers, Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, suffered injuries during non-NASCAR activities.
Elliott injured his tibia following a snowboarding accident ahead of the third race of the season; Elliott was sidelined for six races and later missed one more race due to suspension. Bowman missed four race weeks due to a back injury after a sprint race crash. In the aftermath, both of the drivers missed the playoffs, as they couldn’t find good enough momentum to secure the wins.
Gordon, the VP of Hendrick Motorsports, reflected on the after-match HMS driver’s accident and said that he doesn’t have a problem with racers doing things they love, but they need to be smart about the calls. He added that HMS supports the driver’s non-NSASCAR activities, but there are limits that have been put on them.
“I don’t have a problem with these guys doing things. You know, just be smart about it, do it, just make wise choices as you’re doing it. I love that Chase is snowboarding and doing things that make him happy and he enjoys, same with Alex and same with William. So, we support that, but there are limits to it, and those guys have to make those decisions,” Gordon told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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Jeff Gordan says Chase Elliott might think twice before making a decision on non-racing activities
Gordon, when asked if the poor outcome would change his No:9 Chevy Camaro ZL1 drivers’ decision-making due to his injury, pointed out that Elliott might be taking a different decision. He affirmed that at the end of the day, it would be on him.
“Is he going to make different choices because of what he has gone through and seeing how being out of the car has impacted his season? Maybe, and that’s on him,” said Gordon. The words do hint that Gordon expects his team’s valuable asset to make such choices.
The four-time Cup champion earlier acknowledged that the non-racing activities do help drivers find the much-needed mental balance. He said, “That’s physically, mentally, and balance in every way possible, and to me, that means that you have to have your home, life, and friends and family and relationships and activities that contribute to that.”
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Justin P Joy
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