The 2020 champion suffered an damage to his left leg whereas snowboarding in Colorado, a Hendrick crew assertion mentioned.
He was scheduled to endure surgical procedure on Friday night time, and his size of restoration is presently unknown.
Elliott can be changed by Xfinity Collection common Josh Berry, the 32-year-old a five-time race winner on the second tier of NASCAR competitors.
He has solely made two earlier Cup Collection begins, with finest end coming at Michigan with Spire Motorsports in 2021 when he completed 26th.
Berry completed fourth within the Xfinity standings final yr with JR Motorsports, the crew owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“Chase’s well being is our main concern,” mentioned Rick Hendrick, proprietor of Hendrick Motorsports.
“He is spoken with a number of members of our crew and is understandably disillusioned to overlook time within the automobile.
“In fact, he has our full help, and we’ll present any assets he wants. We hope to share one other replace later this weekend.”
Sunday’s race would be the first Elliott has missed since turning into a fulltime driver within the Cup Collection in 2016. In 259 profession begins, he has 18 wins.
He completed second to Kyle Busch in final weekend’s Fontana race after an early exit from the Daytona 500.
However lacking races will not essentially derail Elliott’s 2023 title possibilities – Busch himself suffered a damaged leg and foot at Daytona in 2015 however progressed to the playoffs on race wins and secured his first Cup title.
