Almost four weeks ago, Hendrick Motorsports driver, Chase Elliott, was involved in a snowboarding accident that injured his left leg. The surgery was successful, but he was asked to rest for at least six weeks. However, it is still not clear when he will make a comeback.

Bound to stay at his home, Elliott missed the thrill of participating in the race. But to his fans’ surprise, he was present virtually alongside the broadcasting team of Fox Sports during the race at the Circuit of The Americas. While discussing the race, NASCAR on FOX commentator and former NASCAR driver, Clint Bowyer, tried to dig up the $400,000 disaster that HMS managed to land itself in recently, and Elliott gave a scathing reply.

Former NASCAR driver’s dig backfires on him as Chase Elliott

Chase was on a live broadcast of the race via video conferencing. The discussion initially centered around the fact that the NASCAR community misses him on the track. While talking to Elliot, Clint Bowyer glanced over the headset that Chase was wearing. He couldn’t resist saying, “Seeing the headset on you buddy. Why didn’t they pick you to replace that crew chief set on top of that box? I think you might be able to do it.”

This was supposed to be a thinly-veiled dig at Hendrick Motorsports due to the louvers fiasco which has left the team disadvantaged financially, logistically, and competitively. However, Chase was ready with a savage reply, as he said, “I think that’d probably go as good as you doing it. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.” Although injured, Chase can still be entertaining as his quick wit left the commentators laughing hysterically.

Chase Elliott kept his team from being reminded repeatedly of the debacle in which NASCAR fined his team after discovering an allegedly unauthorized hood louver modification. As the $400,000 fine is the largest combined fine issued in NASCAR history, it has been a hot topic of discussion in the NASCAR community for the past two weeks.

How will the appeal process go for Hendrick Motorsports

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After Hendrick Motorsports was found guilty of modifying hood louvers at Phoenix Raceway, four Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs were fined $100,000 each. This equates to a whopping $400,000—the highest aggregate fine on record.  

Read More: Chase Elliott Reveals He Was Waiting For Someone to Spoil His Race

Soon after the penalties were announced, HMS decided to appeal the decision. As per NASCAR on NBC, the formal hearing will take place on March 29 and the appeal will be heard by a three-member National Motorsports Appeals Panel. Though, it is hard to ascertain the outcome of the hearing, as neither HMS nor NASCAR is allowed to make public its case summary.  

It will be interesting to see if the panel affirms or rejects the penalty. The penalty can also be adjusted—like the panel did last year when William Byron’s $50,000 + 25 driver’s points penalty was modified to a $100,000 one.

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