Rick Hendrick is famous for his intimidating presence in the NASCAR industry. Last year, Hendrick Motorsports’ driver suffered a leg injury while snowboarding before the third race of the 2023 season. This unfortunate incident caused him to miss six races and greatly impacted his performance, resulting in a winless year and absence from the playoffs. Recently, the driver opened up about how he shared this news with his boss.
The left tibia fracture put the No.9 driver in a difficult position of informing the team owner about his injury. Feeling apprehensive, he first contacted his car chief to share the unexpected incident. Additionally, Elliott was afraid to call his boss due to his intimidating demeanor and the need to reveal his unavailability for upcoming races.
Eventually, Elliott had a conversation with Hendrick to discuss his situation and emotions. Surprisingly, the conversation went better than expected. Hendrick showed more concern for Elliott’s injury rather than focusing on the upcoming races. The 2020 Champion was relieved to see his boss understand the situation and react in a supportive manner.
Although Elliott has returned to racing, he has struggled to regain his momentum after the incident. He has experienced a 14-race streak of finishes outside the top-5, while his teammates continue to win races. The 2024 season has not been favorable to him either, as he is yet to secure a top-10 finish. However, Elliott remains optimistic and has the resources to make a comeback soon.