Chase Elliott will miss Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after undergoing three-hour surgery to repair his fractured tibia.
Elliott sustained the injury while snowboarding, and Hendrick Motorsports general manager Jeff Andrews said there was no timetable for Elliott’s return to racing.
«We’re going to be racing a lot together with Chase Elliott, and we’re going to win a lot more races together,» Andrews said.
«Certainly, there’s a little hiccup, and obviously Chase is very disappointed. The most important thing is Chase’s health, and we’ll have a suit ready for him when he’s healthy and ready to get back in a race car.»
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Chase Elliott watches as his crew works on his car during practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 on February 17, 2023 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Josh Berry will drive the No. 9 Chevrolet in Sunday’s Cup race in Las Vegas.
Berry acknowledged that he will need to adjust to driving the new car, but he has won two Xfinity Series races at the track in the past. He said his familiarity with the track should be beneficial.
NASCAR’S KURT BUSCH REMAINS OUT WHILE CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS CONTINUE TO REMAIN
«I’m going to be learning a new car here in an hour or so, so to at least have some success on the track, I think that definitely gives me more confidence in what I’m doing,» Berry said Saturday. «It’s been a wild couple of days. You never know what’s going to happen when you wake up.»
Andrews added that the process has begun to obtain a waiver from NASCAR for Elliot. If the waiver is granted, Elliott would be eligible to compete in the playoffs.
Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, said he spoke with Elliott and shared his own experience coming back from breaking his right leg and left foot at Daytona in 2015.
«Even with as good a support system as I had around me during my injury, there was a time when we were watching the races on Sunday, and you just break down and miss being out there and being in your car and having a chance. «. to go out there and compete,» Busch said.
«That’s what we live for and build our whole lives to be successful. Chase is pretty young (27) and I’m sure healthy enough that it’s not too crazy a thing to go through.»
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver introductions ahead of the 65th Annual NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Elliott’s injury did not occur on the track, but Andrews said Hendrick Motorsports will not change its new policy regarding driver activities off the track, saying «these guys have to go out and live a life.»
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Jeff Gordon, vice president of Hendrick Motorsports, speak before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 6, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Elliott finished second last week at Fontana, Calif., in the series’ second race of the season. Elliott was involved in a crash the week before in the Daytona 500.
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He is a second-generation driver and the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott. The Georgia native is five times the most popular driver voted by NASCAR fans.
Associated Press contributed to this report.