Chase Elliott will replace suspended driver Spencer Gallagher in GMS Racing’s No. 23 Xfinity car this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the team announced Monday.
Elliott also is scheduled to drive the No. 23 car for GMS Racing at Pocono (June 2), Chicagoland (June 30), Daytona (July 6) and Bristol (Aug. 17).
This will be Elliott’s second Xfinity race of the season. He finished 12th in the series opener at Daytona. Hooters, which is a sponsor on Elliott’s Cup team at Hendrick Motorsports, will sponsor him in Saturday’s Xfinity race at Charlotte.
NASCAR indefinitely suspended Gallagher on May 2 for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.
There is no timetable for Gallagher’s return. It will be dependent on him completing NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program.
“I appreciate GMS letting me get behind the wheel of the No. 23,” Elliott said in a statement from the team. “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.”
I’m looking forward to get back in a xfinity car some this year, thanks to the folks at GMS for keeping me in mind right now. It’s been a while other than a couple plate races here and there, gotta knock the rust off fast! https://t.co/nRRCPUB1yB
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) May 21, 2018