Chase Elliott’s “4D Chess” Keeps Him Safe as NASCAR’s $400,000 Bombshell Makes Hendrick Motorsports A Laughing Stock

Last Friday, NASCAR sent out the hood louvers from all Hendrick Motorsports cars and Kaulig Racing’s #31 car to the NASCAR Research and Development Center. Suspecting unapproved part modifications, the governing body did not levy any penalties last week without a complete examination. However, on Wednesday, they finally made a decision. And it does not look good for the teams, maybe barring Chase Elliott.

As shared by NASCAR.com, the sanctioning authority penalized HMS and Kaulig Racing with L-2 penalties. With a $100,000 penalty announced for each of the four crew chiefs, NASCAR deducted 100 team and driver points along with 10 playoff points from the drivers’ Cup standings.

However, Hendrick Motorsports #9 driver Chase Elliott escaped the points penalty. Unfortunately (or fortunately), Chase Elliott recently endured a snowboarding injury. And since his substitute, Josh Berry, earns Xfinity points, the #9 did not lose any driver points.

Seems like luck was on Elliott’s side this time around. Because apart from him, Kaulig Racing and his HMS teammates Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, and William Byron have received a huge blow to their Cup standings.

NASCAR fans took this opportunity to appreciate Elliott’s situation. Claiming that Chase Elliott is ‘playing 4D chess,’ and was already aware of these upcoming penalties, fans shared their own hilarious theories on Reddit.

READ MORE: Watch: Chase Elliott’s Live Reaction After He Is Mocked With Nepotism & “Preferential Treatment” Tag

NASCAR fans joke about Chase Elliott playing 4D chess

After the announcement of the penalties, NASCAR fans started speculating about the timing of Chase Elliott’s injury. While some saw this as a genius move by the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion, others conjectured that he deliberately broke his leg as he saw this coming.

Comment from discussion DHFixxxer’s comment from discussion "NASCAR docks all Hendrick drivers (except Elliott and Berry, who doesn’t earn points in Cup) and teams 100 points, 10 playoff points".

Comment from discussion SChasBetterPeaches’s comment from discussion "NASCAR docks all Hendrick drivers (except Elliott and Berry, who doesn’t earn points in Cup) and teams 100 points, 10 playoff points".

Comment from discussion cd247’s comment from discussion "NASCAR docks all Hendrick drivers (except Elliott and Berry, who doesn’t earn points in Cup) and teams 100 points, 10 playoff points".

Comment from discussion vieirak14’s comment from discussion "NASCAR docks all Hendrick drivers (except Elliott and Berry, who doesn’t earn points in Cup) and teams 100 points, 10 playoff points".

Comment from discussion xelanalpak’s comment from discussion "NASCAR docks all Hendrick drivers (except Elliott and Berry, who doesn’t earn points in Cup) and teams 100 points, 10 playoff points".

WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott Has “Formal Request” to Alter “Script” Rejected in Cheeky Declaration Amid Injury Setback

Reportedly, Hendrick Motorsports released a statement revealing that they would be appealing against the penalties. However, it does not look like Chase Elliott will have to worry about any of it. Because even though some of the theories do look a bit far-fetched, there’s no denying that Elliott’s injury did prove to be an advantage at the end of the day.