
via Getty
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and his father Bill Elliott pose for a photo after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

via Getty
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and his father Bill Elliott pose for a photo after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Amidst the recent tensions in the NASCAR community caused due to Chase Elliott’s leg injury, fans were delighted and relieved to see a photo of Chase Elliott and his father, Bill Elliott, completing their flight training at the Orlando Flying Center.
The tweet was posted by FlightSafety International, a company that delivers professional world-class training to aircraft operators. The tweet was captioned, “Excellence is always earned. Congrats to NASCAR legend Bill Elliott and No. 9 @chaseelliott on their recent flight training at our Orlando center.”
Excellence is always earned. Congrats to NASCAR legend Bill Elliott and No. 9 @chaseelliott on their recent flight training at our Orlando center. pic.twitter.com/yXTSfmGpQH
— FlightSafety International (@FlightSafetyInt) March 14, 2023
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Fans were quick to respond to the tweet, with many expressing their admiration for the father-son duo. One fan exclaimed, “How cool is that!” While another appreciated their hard work, saying, “Achieving excellence is proof that hard work pays off. Got to admire this father/son duo!”
How cool is that!
— Kathy Peebles – 🇺🇸🩸🙏🦅 (@kpeebles8) March 15, 2023
Achieving excellence is proof that hard work pays off. Got to admire this father/son duo!
— Debra Smith (@dlhsmith329) March 15, 2023
While the photo seems to have been taken before the injury, one fan suggested, “I think this was just before the Daytona 500 weekend.”
I think this was just before the Daytona 500 weekend
— Helen Bloskiy (@HJbloskiy) March 14, 2023
The dilemma of NASCAR drivers engaging in extracurricular activities
However, this recent achievement by Chase Elliott and his father may have left some NASCAR fans with mixed feelings. Chase Elliott’s snowboarding injury has caused him to miss the Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, and he will have to miss out on a few more. This left many opinionating about the accident and particularly about NASCAR drivers engaging in extra-curricular activities. One of the concerned was Bubba Wallace‘s spotter, Freddie Kraft, who had conflicting thoughts about NASCAR drivers engaging in extracurricular activities.
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Kraft believes that drivers should live their lives but should also be smart enough not to put themselves at risk. He stated in the Door Bumper Clear podcast, “Do I have a problem with him going snowboarding? Not really. Do I have a problem with him going snowboarding a day before practice, probably less than 24 hours before practice? Maybe.”

via Imago
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Daytona 500 Feb 19, 2023 Daytona Beach, Florida, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott 9 during driver introductions before the start of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Daytona International Speedway Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMikexDinovox 20230219_mcd_ad4_16
Since Elliott’s injury, Hendrick Motorsports has turned to Josh Berry and Jordan Taylor to fill in for Elliott, with Berry driving the #9 Chevrolet on ovals and Taylor taking the wheel at Circuit of The Americas in Texas.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott Agrees “Once You Have Kids, Then You Have to Have It” on America’s Favorite Morning Routine
While drivers should be allowed to pursue their interests outside of racing, they must also take precautions to avoid injuries that could affect their racing careers. As Kraft said, “If you love snowboarding, do it in December,” when it doesn’t interfere with their professional obligations.
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