Chase Elliott receives waiver to remain playoff eligible after one race suspension

NASCAR has laid down the law and given its most popular driver a one-race suspension. However, Chase Elliott will remain playoff eligible. Earlier this season, Elliott received a waiver for missing six races due to his leg injury. This waiver will cover the race at WWTR Gateway this weekend.

The rules for playoff eligibility say that the drivers have to attempt to race in each Cup Series event to make the postseason. Missing one race without a waiver puts you out of contention for the drivers’ championship.

This latest incident stems from Chase Elliott turning into Denny Hamlin at Charlotte. As the drivers were racing hard, Hamlin put Elliott up to the wall and when he came back down, Elliott appeared to steer into Hamlin’s right rear. The wreck from inside the No. 11 Toyota looked violent.

Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports reported that NASCAR had granted the waiver to the 2020 Cup Series champion.

Chase Elliott has been granted a waiver to miss WWTR Gateway and remain playoff eligible.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 1, 2023

The suspension doesn’t really change the goals for Elliott. He might have pointed himself into the top-16 for the playoffs if he didn’t get suspended. However, the only thing that really matters at this point is getting a win. Without that, he will be racing for nothing after the regular season.

Of course, this shakeup has led to a few opportunities for some other drivers. With Chase Elliott out for Gateway and Josh Berry racing the Xfinity Series at Portland this weekend, Hendrick Motorsports had to look elsewhere for a replacement.

Corey LaJoie replacing Chase Elliott at Gateway

This Gateway race is going to be very interesting. The Chase Elliott suspension has led to a little domino effect that will be interesting to see play out. Corey LaJoie is moving to the No. 9 car in place of Elliott. A major chance for him to prove what he’s been saying for a few seasons.

The Spire Motorsports driver is on the end of his contract and this could be a bit of an interview for all those other teams looking for drivers next year. It isn’t likely that LaJoie makes a jump to another team in 2024, but there is a small chance.

Since LaJoie won’t be in the No. 7 Chevy, Carson Hocevar has gotten the big call-up to his first-ever Cup Series start. The Truck Series regular has earned a reputation on the track that isn’t exactly great. I expect the bumping and dooring to be at a minimum as the young driver will attempt to show his maturity in the race.

Chase Elliott is out, Corey LaJoie is in. What are the chances we see the No. 9 in Victory Lane on Sunday?