Rick Hendrick Believes his Unawareness of Chase Elliott’s Personal Life is Key for his Return to the Top

So much has been said about Chase Elliott and his nightmare 2023 season already. However, here’s a quick recap. He went on a snowboarding trip after the second race of the season. Normally, this would not be a problem because everyone has their hobbies. But, the 2020 Cup Series champion injured himself, and that put him out of action for five straight races. He later picked up a one-race suspension, and all of that contributed to him missing the Playoffs for the first time in his career.

Naturally, the 2024 season is a way for the #9 driver to redeem himself for his failure. Safe to say, there is nothing more dangerous than a highly motivated driver of Elliott’s caliber. The Georgia native knows that he cannot afford to slip up and team owner Rick Hendrick placed a lot of faith in him. So it is up to him to repay that faith and ensure that Hendrick Motorsports goes all guns blazing.

Rick Hendrick opened up on why Chase Elliott will be back at his best

Speaking to AP, Rick Hendrick spoke about Chase Elliott whether he would be obscure without racing. He said, “No, because I don’t know what other stuff he does. He’s not a party guy. He’s not a world traveler. I think he enjoys living in Dawsonville. Chase, he has not given up. In no way is he racing because he’s Chase Elliott. He’s racing because he knows he’s a champion.”

If we’re being honest, Elliott is a hugely talented driver in his own right. 18 Cup Series wins is definitely something to write home about, but 2023 would have rattled his confidence. While Kyle Larson and William Byron were sparing the team the blushes, Elliott and Alex Bowman were practically anonymous.

READ MORE: Held Back by Injury, Will Chase Elliott Finally Turn Tables at the 2024 Daytona 500?

As a result, the #9 and #48 drivers will be aiming to have a better 2024 run and get back in the Playoffs.

Elliott’s season has not gone to plan so far

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Truthfully, his 2024 campaign has not got off to the greatest start either. He started by crashing out at the LA Coliseum. On the bright side, the Clash at the Coliseum is a non point-scoring race, so there are no major repercussions. But it was a chance to see how the Cup Series campaign would play out.

The first race of the season is the Daytona 500, a race where he started on pole position twice. However, he has yet to triumph at the Great American Race in his career. The closest he ever came to winning it was in 2021 when he finished 2nd, behind Michael McDowell. Fast-forward to three years later, and the #9 driver is on a mission to gun for a second Cup Series championship.

WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott Once Again Wins the Most Popular Award Despite a Disappointing Season