[h=2]Hendrick signs Elliott through 2022[/h] Tuesday, 27 June 2017








Hendrick Motorsports has locked up Chase Elliott for at least four more years.

The organization announced Tuesday afternoon it had agreed to a contract with Elliott that would keep him in the No. 24 Chevrolet through the 2022 season. Elliott took over the famed car last season upon the retirement of four-time champion Jeff Gordon and earned Rookie of the Year honors. He also captured two poles, including for the season-opening Daytona 500.
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"It means the world to me to be a part of this organization, and I couldn't be happier [about the extension]," Elliott said. "I wouldn't want to drive for anybody else but Hendrick Motorsports. I am very proud to be where I am, and I definitely take it upon myself to work hard and make sure I do my part for the company as we move forward."
Elliott's previous contract with Hendrick Motorsports ran through the 2018 season.
Through the first 16 races of the season, Elliott sits sixth in points and is looking for a second consecutive berth in the playoffs. The year started with a second pole award for the Daytona 500, and he has since led 169 laps and compiled 10 top-10 finishes.
A four-time winner of the Most Popular Driver award between the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and the Xfinity Series, He's been voted into the All-Star Race in each of the past two seasons.
"As both a driver and a person, where Chase is today at 21 years old is unbelievable," said team owner Rick Hendrick. "With all the expectations and pressure, he's stayed focused on being himself and working as hard as he can.
"The pure driving talent has always been obvious, and he's doing so many great things off the track. He'll be a big part of our organization and our sport for many years. I'm looking forward to watching him continue to grow with us."

 

Elliott team penalized, crew chief suspended

Tuesday, 19 September 2017


By Kelly Crandall / Image by Barry Cantrell/LAT


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The Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 team has been issued an L1-level penalty following the race at Chicagoland Speedway, resulting in a one-race suspension for crew chief Alan Gustafson.
Under section 20.20 of the NASCAR rule book (Assembled Vehicle Overall Rules), the team was found to have modified components to affect the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle in the opening race of the Playoffs.


Gustafson has been fined $25,000 and he and car chief Joshua Kirk have been suspended for the next Monster Energy NASCAR cup Series race (New Hampshire). The team was also docked 15 driver and owner points while Chase Elliott's second-place finish has been ruled encumbered.
The penalty drops Elliott from sixth to eighth in the Playoffs standings and he loses the playoff point he earned for winning the second stage of the Tales of the Turtles 400.
Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal the penalty. Kenny Francis will serve as the interim crew chief for the No. 24 team at New Hampshire. Kevin Hulstein will serve as the team's car chief.
Additional Chicagoland penalties:
Joe Gibbs Racing was issued a safety penalty after Matt Kenseth's No. 20 Toyota had one unsecured lug nut. Crew chief Jason Ratcliff has been fined $10,000.
In the Xfinity Series, the same penalty was assessed to the No. 98 team, which competed with Darrell Wallace Jr. and finished 10th. Crew chief Jonathan Hanson has been fined $5,000.

 

Chase Elliott finished second and failed to advance into the Championship 4. The No. 24 team needed to win the race and Elliott did lead 32 laps. He took the lead from Kenseth with 29 laps to go after restarting from the final caution because of a Denny Hamlin crash.

Contact between Elliott and Hamlin off Turn 4 resulted a few laps later in Hamlin cutting down a tire and making heavy contact with the Turn 3 wall. Hamlin failed to finish the race and also did not advance to the championship race.

"That's such a bummer. We were so close to having another shot next week," Elliott said. "Can't say enough for my team and our Hooters Chevrolet this weekend. We fought really, really hard today and gave ourselves a chance. ... But man, that is such a bummer. I was telling my guys we'll get it right someday, or I'll get it right someday. We've had so many good opportunities, at some point we just got to close."
Martin Truex Jr. battled Elliott to the checkered flag and finished third. His Furniture Row Racing teammate Erik Jones finished fourth with Kevin Harvick completing the top five.
Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Aric Almirola and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top 10. Brad Keselowski finished 16th and took the final spot in the Championship 4.
Eliminated along with Elliott and Hamlin was Ryan Blaney, who finished 17th, and Jimmie Johnson. The defending series champion crashed on lap 148 due to a blown tire and finished 39th.
The race featured seven cautions for 41 laps and nine lead changes among five drivers. Hamlin led the most laps (193) and won Stage 2. Kyle Larson, who picked up his fourth straight DNF because of a blown engine, won the first stage.