Associated Press7:51 PM ET2 Minute Read
Chase Elliott injured his leg in a snowboarding accident in Colorado on Friday and will miss this weekend’s NASCAR race in Las Vegas.
Hendrick Motorsports said NASCAR’s most popular driver was scheduled for surgery Friday night. No further details were provided about Elliott’s condition or the accident.
Josh Berry will drive the #9 Chevrolet in place of Elliott on Sunday.
“Chase’s health is our primary concern,” said team owner Rick Hendrick. “He has spoken to several members of our team and is understandably disappointed that he is missing the time in the car. Of course he has our full support and we will provide any resources he needs.”
Hendrick said he hopes to provide an update on Elliott this weekend.
Elliott is a second-generation driver and the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott. The Georgia native is NASCAR’s five-time fan-voted driver.
Part of NASCAR’s dwindling squad of true superstars, Elliott was signed to a developmental deal by Hendrick at the age of 14.
He has blossomed into a true elite racer and won the 2020 Cup title. The 27-year-old has 18 career cup wins and has advanced to the championship final for the past three years in a row.
The injury comes at a time when Hendrick has dramatically changed his stance on extracurricular activities. He was adamant that his drivers should not race in other series or engage in reckless behavior for fear of injury.
But he has made a complete about-face after signing Kyle Larson for 2021. Larson runs small tracks across the country and has persuaded Hendrick not to force him to stop.
This move opened the door for all four Hendrick riders to race other events, and Elliott has accepted the offer. But that accident happened during physical activity, and it’s not public knowledge what Elliott can and can’t do under his Hendrick contract.
Elliott is a licensed pilot and because he never left his hometown of Dawsonville, Georgia, he often flies himself to meetings at Hendrick’s North Carolina race shop.
Berry is now 32 years old and normally drives for the Hendrick subsidiary JR Motorsports in the second tier Xfinity series. He is a five-time winner for JRM and has previously made two cup starts.