With a little help from Lucky Dog, avoids damage in two spins to post second top-ten

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (April 7, 2009)  –  Chase Elliott and Lucky Dog went for a wild ride during Saturday night’s 2009 Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) season-opener at Watermelon Capital Speedway (Cecil, Ga.).  After starting fourth in the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine, 13-year-old Elliott went for two spins during the 125-lap event and finished in seventh, his second consecutive top-ten in his first two Late Model starts.

“We’re really just out here running for seat time and experience,” Elliott said after the race, “so I’m just happy we’re able to bring the Aaron’s Dream Machine home in one piece, without much damage, especially after spinning twice tonight.  We had an awesome night anyway at Cordele.  After my first spin and restarting in the back I made it all the way back up the 4th place when I was spun out again and started all over again in the back but took the checkered flag passing the 7th place car at the end.  I’m still getting used to this Late Model racing.  I know we’ll get there – we just to have to work hard every week.  I’m having a good time, running with these more experienced drivers and learning from them – I feel privileged to get to do what I love so much.”

Elliott, who picked up considerably from practice to qualifying, laid down a fast lap of 16.266 seconds around the 3/8-mile oval to claim the fourth starting position in the 13-car Pro Late Model field. 

At the start of the 125-lap GAS event, Elliott slipped back to sixth and ran nose-to-tail with the rest of the field for seven laps until contact from behind sent Elliott spinning.  Elliott ducked into the pits where the No. 9 team pulled out the fenders and checked for damage.

Following a red flag to allow safety crews to pull a car from the pond outside of turn three, Elliott was ready to make a charge back through the field.  Unfortunately, a series of cautions would slow his efforts. 

Eventually the field took the green flag on lap 22 to begin what would be the longest green flag run of the 125-lap race.  By lap 60, Elliott was battling for seventh and at lap 80, Elliott found himself in fourth – his highest position of the night.

Ten quick laps later, Elliott and the No. 9 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine were spinning in front of the field when a lapped car caused a chain reaction that resulted in contact to Elliott’s rear bumper.  Again, the young driver was able to avoid any significant damage to the car and lined up in ninth place, the last car on the lead lap, for the final 35 laps.

Elliott survived two more cautions and was able to pick up two positions to move into seventh before the checkered-flag flew on the 2009 GAS season-opener at Watermelon Capital Speedway.