Chase Elliott’s long-time spotter, Eddie D’Hondt, announced he would leave the No:9 Hendrick Motorsports team ahead of 2024. D’Hondt has been part of Elliott’s career since he made his debut. They experienced all the highs and lows together and, in 2020, impressively won the Cup championship.
But after the worst season of their career together in the top tier in 2023, they have decided to part ways. Elliott missed seven races this season, six due to a tibia injury following a snowboarding accident. He hasn’t been able to pull off any wins since making a comeback and missed out on the playoff because of it.
According to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass reports via X, HMS has signed Trey Poole as the full-time spotter of the No:9 team. He is Chase Elliott’s cousin, and they have worked together previously in some road course races. Poole has worked four times as a spotter for Cup champion and current HMS VC Jeff Gordon .
Eddie D’Hondt, who left HMS, is all set to join Stewart Haas Racing to spot Josh Berry from the 2024 season. Berry was Elliott’s replacement in five of the seven races he missed at the start of the season, and the ex-JRM driver’s impressive substitute stint helped him to land the Cup seat as Kevin Harvick’s replacement.
Championship-winning spotter has joined Trackhouse Racing
Another major spotter change that occurred around the new year was the 2023 NASCAR Cup champion Ryan Blaney’s spotter, Josh Williams, announcing his new destination. He announced his exit from the Team Penske No:12 team a month ago.
It has been confirmed that Willaims will spot Trackhouse Racing’s Zane Smith in 2024. Smith joined the Justin Marks-owned team as part of a unique deal for 2024. He will drive for Spire Motorsports next season instead of Stackhouse.
Smith was loaned to the team as part of the new deal, and he will drive the Spire Chevy, which Trackhouse supports;
New year, new house! Couldn’t be more excited to announce my new home with [Trackhouse]! I really admire the culture that [Justin Marks] and Ty Norris have built in just a few short years at TH.
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