Monday, August 24, 2009

Elliott Finishes Eighth in CRA Super Series Debut

Chase Elliott Finishes Eighth in CRA Super Series Debut DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (August 24, 2009) – Thirteen-year-old Chase Elliott made his Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series debut Sunday at the historic Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville (Tenn.) and posted an impressive eighth place finish. After starting 14th in the 32-car field, Elliott ran as high as seventh and showed patience while racing with NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, who won the night before at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Choosing to conserve tires, Elliott was strong on long runs, gaining several spots as other drivers fell off. “This was a great run for the Aaron’s Dream Machine and for our Bill Elliott Racing team,” Elliott said after the race. “We were patient and worked on conserving our equipment in order to be strong at the end to make a run. We can feel good about having accomplished both here at Nashville this weekend. “I’m just really proud of the team and how hard everyone has been working. Ricky Turner is an awesome crew chief; I know he’s going to give me a great car every time we hit the track. And I can’t thank Aaron’s, my mom and dad, the whole team, and all of our product sponsors enough for supporting me. I feel blessed to get to do what I love every weekend.” Elliott, who made his first laps around the Fairgrounds Speedway during Saturday’s three practice rounds, posted the eighth overall fastest lap with a time of 18.79 seconds -- without fresh tires like many at the top of the leader board. When qualifying rolled around, Elliott and the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine hit the track fifth out of the 40 cars attempting to make the field and recorded a time of 18.635 seconds around the 0.596-mile oval. After all cars took their qualifying runs, Elliott sat 15th on the board; but after fastest qualifier Johnny VanDoorn’s time was disqualified, Elliott was credited with 14th place. After the draw for inversion, 16-year-old Johanna Long would start from the pole. At the drop of the green flag for the 150-lap race, Elliott was on the move, picking up three spots in the first two laps. Some hard racing earned the Aaron’s Dream Machine a “doughnut” over the driver’s side No. 9 early in the race. The first caution waved on lap six for a six-car pile-up that included Kyle Busch, who sustained mostly cosmetic damage. Once the field was back to speed, Elliott picked up one position to move into the top-ten on lap 40. By lap 43, Busch was pressuring Elliott for position. Spotter and dad Bill Elliott advised his son to let Busch go and to follow him and learn. The second-generation racer let Busch go without a fight but reported back to his dad, “I would like to [follow him] but his line is wearing out my front tires. My car likes the high line better, and I think it is easier on my tire wear.” The move would pay dividends later in the race when he would pass Busch back for position. Following another caution, Elliott reclaimed 10th and moved into ninth near the half-way mark. Closing in on lap 100, he slipped back to 11th but drove back into ninth by lap 119. In the closing laps, Elliott ran as high as seventh and shuffled around as drivers scrambled for position. The young driver’s decision to conserve the tires on the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine paid off as other cars fell off while Elliott recorded a strong eighth-place finish in his CRA Super Series debut and only his second Super Late Model start. Elliott and the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine are headed to Cordele, Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway for Saturday’s ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour 100-lap event. Elliott made history earlier this month when he became the youngest winner in series history with a victory at Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway. For more information, please visit www.SouhteastAsphaltTour.com. For the most up-to-date Chase Elliott news, including his racing schedule and weekly podcast, please visit www.ChaseElliott.com.

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