CONCORD, N.C. -- Fear not, racing fans. Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson won’t be taking much time to hang on their couches during the offseason. The NASCAR Cup Series championship drivers will be taking on some midget and sprint racing over the holidays, starting this weekend.
Both Larson and Elliott will be in Placerville, California, on Friday and Saturday for the Hangtown 100 for USAC Midget racing at Placerville Speedway. Located less than an hour from Larson’s hometown of Elk Grove, California, it will be the first offseason race for both Hendrick Motorsports drivers.
"I just stay busy like always racing the dirt cars and try to stay fresh behind the wheel of a race car," Larson said. "(I’ll) enjoy some time off, but really not lose focus on the racing side of things. I don’t like having an offseason. I like staying fresh, I like staying busy and not taking my mind off racing.”
Three days later, Larson and Elliott will be in Merced, California, for the USAC National Midgets and 360 wing sprints events at Merced Speedway. Racing will take place from Nov. 23 to Nov. 24 and will end the day before Thanksgiving. Larson will remain in California with his family for the holiday while Elliott will spend time with his family tucking in to a homemade meal.
Neither driver will have too much time to eat leftover turkey; both will be on hand at Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California, on Nov. 26 and 27 for the 80th Turkey Night Grand Prix. Elliott and Larson will be back behind the wheel of midget cars to wrap up three races in one week.
Larson will then fly halfway around the world to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to watch the Formula One finale as a fan. However, he will be back in the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma in January to defend his 2020 and 2021 titles at the famous dirt venue.