NASCAR: Chase Elliott to drive for GMS Racing in five Xfinity Series races

By Asher Fair | May 22, 2018

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Chase Elliott is set to drive in select races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for GMS Racing as the replacement for the suspended Spencer Gallagher.

Following his win in the Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 28, which was his first career win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, 28-year-old Spencer Gallagher was suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy.

As a result, GMS Racing replaced him with NASCAR Truck Series regular Johnny Sauter in the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in the series most recent race at Dover International Speedway. They have just announced that they will be replacing him with a NASCAR Cup Series regular in several more races this season.

Chase Elliott, who drives the #9 Chevrolet full-time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, is set to replace Gallagher in the #23 Chevrolet in five Xfinity Series races over the course of the next few months. In his 73 career Xfinity Series races, including 66 races over the course of his two full-time seasons in the series in 2014 and 2015, he has never driven for a team other than JR Motorsports.

More from Xfinity Series

The 22-year-old Elliott drove in the Xfinity Series earlier this season in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in what was his first appearance in the series since he drove in six races in it in the 2016 season. He drove the #88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in that race.

He is set to return to the Xfinity Series this Saturday, May 26 in the Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway before he drives in the Coca-Cola 600 the following night in the longest Cup Series race of the season.

The other four races in which Elliott is scheduled to drive the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet this season are the Pocono Green 250 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, June 2, the Overton’s 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, June 30, the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, July 6 and the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 17.

Here is what Elliott had to say about getting the chance to drive for GMS Racing in the Xfinity Series, according to NASCAR.com.

"“I appreciate GMS letting me get behind the wheel of the No. 23. I’m excited to have Hooters on the car for Charlotte. It’s a big week for them and I look forward to representing them in a new way on the Xfinity side.”"

Elliott is still set to compete full-time in the Cup Series.

Next: Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time

How will Chase Elliott perform in the Xfinity Series as a part-time driver for GMS Racing over the course of the next few months? Tune in to Fox Sports 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET this Saturday, May 26 to watch the live broadcast of Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to watch him make his debut driving the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet.

Home/Xfinity Series