Historically, Hendrick Motorsports has been very conservative when it comes to allowing its drivers to take part in other forms of racing outside of NASCAR. And for good reason—they do not want their drivers to get injured or distracted. But this approach has become a thing of the past.
Now, HMS has drivers like Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, who are not only extremely good at their primary job, but are also good at pushing the envelope for themselves outside of it.
In the last few years, HMS has eased up on the restrictions they’ve historically put on their drivers. But at the same time, it’s not like the drivers can do whatever they want. There is still the main focus, which is the steering wheel of the Cup Series stock cars. But if that part’s covered, why not?
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That’s what Chase Elliott recently revealed in an interview.
Chase Elliott says Hendrick Motorsports is open to extra-curricular but “within reason”
In a conversation on the Heidi and Frank Morning Show, Elliott was asked whether there is some clause in his contract that allows or disallows him as a Hendrick Motorsports driver to participate in activities outside NASCAR.
“Within reason, within reason,” Elliott responded. “We try to be responsible in the things that we do. But also many times, some of those things are opportunities.”
“I think that’s where you have to find that balance, try to push yourself in new areas but also try to stay in shape and make sure the job at hand on Sundays is the most important thing, which it is, we all kinda understand that,” he continued.
“But yeah, within reason.”
Kyle Larson too had recently commented on the same subject
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While Chase Elliott is pretty active outside of NASCAR, his Hendrick teammate, Kyle Larson, is on another level when it comes to running as many races as possible.
In fact, he too recently commented on the strictness with which HMS would treat their drivers before, and how when he was signed in 2020, he played a big role in where things stand today.
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“It did use to be strict. I remember,” Larson recalled. “When everything happened with me in 2020 and I had my first initial meeting with Rick, they asked if there’s anything I wanted.”
“I was like, ‘Well, I love racing dirt cars and I want to continue to do that.’ I wasn’t expecting them to be like, ‘Absolutely not. You’re going to focus on this,’” he continued.
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“They said, ‘We’re open to it. We’re changing what we used to be like.’”
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