A Learning Experience

Dawsonville, GA (July 6, 2010) - Chase Elliott and the rest of the stars of the PASS South super late model series celebrated the Fourth of July by running the Firecracker 125 at the historical Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway, a track whose list of past champions includes David Pearson, Ralph Earnhardt, Robert Pressley and Pete Silva.

Elliott hoped to add his name to the winner’s list at the speedway, but a broken lifter arm in his Blue Oval crate motor forced him to a back-up car that wasn’t what he needed to be competitive against a strong PASS field.

Things looked good initially for the Bill Elliott Driver Development team, as their Aaron’s Ford Fusion was fast from the time they unloaded it.

Elliott commented to his crew chief Ricky Turner that the motor was smooth and seemed strong. Then a few minutes later he was in the pits helping pull out a back-up car. The Aaron’s Crew worked quickly and efficiently, much like a Nationwide or Sprint Cup team when unfortunate circumstances arise. They unloaded and switched over to their back-up car and were out on the track with eight minutes remaining in the first 45-minute practice session. The only problem was the back-up was equipped with a more powerful Super Late Model engine, and that meant Elliott would have to bolt on 125 pounds of lead to meet series rules, plus be at a disadvantage from a handling standpoint. Still, in the second round of practice Elliott topped the speed chart with a lap at 88.805 miles per hour.

A total of 32 cars posted qualifying times for the running of the Firecracker 125, and Elliott was able to back up his fast lap in practice with pole qualifying speed of 89.575 mph in his first outing at Greenville-Pickens.

The draw put Elliott starting in the ninth starting position. The field came to the green flag, and Elliott moved up to eighth and then seventh position by Lap Three and radioed to his crew: “The car is pretty good. I’m just taking what it will give me right now."

He wasn’t pushing hard, as he knew that the more powerful motor, one he had not intended to run, would wear the rear tires faster on the old, abrasive asphalt.

By Lap 37, Elliott knew his chances to move up were slim. His father and spotter Bill Elliott tried to talk him through some different approaches to setting up the turns but could see from the spotters stand the difficulties.

“He was too loose and couldn’t keep it on the bottom of the track,” said the elder Elliott. “We had no choice but to run the back-up car. We knew it was the wrong combination for the track.”

The leader, Jody Lavender, lapped Elliott on Lap 99, and Turner had Elliott pit under the next caution period, at Lap 110, to try and adjust for the loose handling condition.

Despite the efforts he finished 15th; his worst finish of the 2010 season.

“We just had to make the best out of what we had to work with,” Chase Elliott said. “I am looking forward to coming back with our other car though, I can tell you that."

"I really felt like that motor combination with the set-up we had was going to be good."