Chase Elliott will return to the seat of the No. 9 this weekend at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports announced April 12.
Elliott has missed the past six Cup races after suffering a fractured tibia in a snowboarding accident in Colorado in March that required surgery on his leg.
“We’re looking forward to having Chase back in his race car to pick up where he left off,” Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, said in a release. “Since the injury, he’s worked extremely hard and focused all his time and energy on returning to the No. 9 team. Throughout the last six weeks, he’s stayed fully engaged with everything we’re doing, and we know he’s chomping at the bit to get on the racetrack and compete for wins.”
Josh Berry has filled in for Elliott in five of the six races, scoring a top five and two top 10s. Jordan Taylor piloted the ride at Circuit of the Americas.
HMS said that the Dawsonville, Ga., native was medically cleared on April 11 and tested in the simulator on the same day and April 12.
Additionally, NASCAR has granted Elliott a playoff waiver to be eligible for the Cup playoffs.
In 15 starts at Martinsville, Elliott has earned a win, five top fives, and nine top 10s.
Entering his fifth year with Frontstretch, Luken Glover is the author of The Underdog House, shedding light on the motivation and performance of NASCAR's dark horse teams as they strive to fight to the top. Additionally, Glover reports for the site at various events, and he contributes in the video editing department.
A 2023 graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Glover is a middle school math and PE teacher, as well as a basketball coach. He is passionate about serving in his church, playing/coaching a wide variety of sports, and researching motorsports history.