Latest On Hendrick Driver After Accident

One of the NASCAR Cup Series’ most prominent drivers, Chase Elliott, will not be competing for the foreseeable future after recently sustaining a broken leg in a snowboarding accident.

Hendrick Motorsports President and General Manager Jeff Andrews spoke to reporters over the weekend and revealed that Elliott was recovering after undergoing three-hour surgery to repair his broken left tibia.

“At this point, we would assume that this is obviously going to take several weeks,” Andrews told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas, per NASCAR. “But beyond that, I can’t offer you a timetable. We will of course be working with Chase and his doctors to find out in the future. But again, I just can’t reiterate enough that for Mr. Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports, Chase’s health and welfare is paramount. We will work with him on that schedule.”

Elliott took to social media on Sunday afternoon make a lighthearted joke about the injury and NASCAR’s “script,” a game with a popular trend in the sport.

Elliott’s injury sparked debate about whether riders should be able to engage in off-track adventurous activities. Andrews said Hendrick Motorsports has no policy to stop drivers from doing so, expressing how drivers have an off-track life. He confirmed the team’s stance that it was an accident.

Xfinity Series regular Josh Berry took Elliott’s seat behind the wheel for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday as he drove the No. 9 car. Berry will now have the pressure to drive well to stay in Elliott’s place.

“We’re going to race with Chase Elliott for a long time and win a lot more races together,” Andrews said. “It’s certainly a minor setback and Chase is obviously very disappointed, but I want to reiterate that the most important thing is Chase’s health.”

Elliott, one of the sport’s most accomplished drivers and 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, placed second at last week’s Pala Casino 400 in California.