Chase Elliott has been out since the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to a snowboarding accident in Colorado that fractured his left tibia. However, it appears Elliott’s absence won’t last much longer.
Let’s dive into the latest on the driver of the No. 9 car’s status as he continues to recover from his injury.
Jeff Gordon reveals update on Chase Elliott’s return to NASCAR
Jeff Gordon, the Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, jumped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to discuss a variety of topics, including the possible return of Elliott. This update should bring a smile to the fans of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver.
According to Gordon, it is possible that Elliott could return to the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Josh Berry is on the entry list for the No. 9 car but it can be changed at any time.
The four-time Cup Series champion said Elliott’s recovery is going well and that he continues to be week-to-week. This is the first time the 27-year-old driver’s possible return date has been teased at this magnitude.
Gordon also said he is hopeful that Elliott will return every week. There seems to be significant optimism as the 2020 Cup Series champion’s return is coming sooner rather than later at this point in time.
Granted, the race at Martinsville would be difficult as it would be an extreme amount of pressure on Elliott’s left leg since he brakes with it. Gordon’s comments don’t mean he will for sure be returning this weekend; however, it is certainly possible.
If Elliott can’t return at Martinsville, which race could represent his first since the snowboarding accident? Continue reading to find out more about Elliott’s possible return below!
Related: NASCAR insider takes a bold stance on Chase Elliott’s injury
Chase Elliott’s injury timeline as his return to Hendrick Motorsports is coming soon
Elliott fractured his tibia on the Friday before the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Since his rehab started the next Monday, it has been five weeks since the timeline for a return began.
This means the 2020 Cup Series champion would still miss this week if he is not ahead in the recovery process. The next race is at one of his best tracks in Martinsville Speedway. A return at Martinsville would be tough due to the physical demand on his left leg but it seems to be possible.
The next return date for Elliott would be Talladega Superspeedway on April 23. It would not be too much demand on his left leg and represent a good chance for Elliott to knock off the rust at a track he won last season.
Unless his recovery time goes beyond the six-week estimate, it seems pretty likely that Elliott returns as early as Martinsville and as late as Talladega. The turnaround to run Martinsville would only make sense if he exceeds expectations and can properly prepare during the upcoming week.
If Hendrick Motorsports decides not to take the risk at Talladega, a return at Dover Motor Speedway would be on April 30 in three weeks. Granted, wrecks can happen anywhere but it is a known fact that Talladega causes major accidents.
Gordon also said the driver of the No. 9 car could return at Talladega or Dover so Martinsville is not a sure thing. The good news for Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, and his fans is that it should be sooner rather than later at this point.