DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (August 3, 2009) - Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Aaron's Dream Machine recorded another top-three finish in Saturday's Georgia Asphalt Series Pro Late Model race at Lanier National Speedway (Braselton, Ga.).  After qualifying fourth, thirteen-year-old Elliott benefited from the random inversion to start from the pole and went on to finish third in a rain-shortened race that saw only 88 of 100 laps complete.

"We definitely had a strong car, and I think that if we would have gotten to race all 100 laps, the Aaron's Dream Machine would have been up there racing for the win," Elliott said.  "But that's just how it goes sometimes.  This was our first race with this new chassis, and I'm really happy with how it ran.  Ricky (Turner) and the guys gave me another fast car, and I can't thank them and Aaron's and my mom and dad and everyone who helps out enough for giving me this opportunity.  I'm really excited to go down to Pensacola (Fla.) next weekend for our first Super Late Model start."

Elliott and the No. 9 Aaron's Dream Machine crew unloaded for Friday's practice with a brand new GARC chassis, and by Saturday's final practice round, the car picked up over three-tenths of a second to post the second fastest lap overall with a time of 14.109.

During the evening's qualifying run, Elliott went out mid-pack in the 11-car field and laid down a 14.013-second lap, nearly a second quicker than practice and put himself fourth in the line-up.  Pole-winner Chris Whorton rolled a "four" to set a four-car inversion, moving Elliott to the pole for the start of the 100-lap Pro Late Model race.

The inside isn't necessarily the preferred line at the 3/8-mile Lanier National Speedway, and Elliott slipped back to sixth on the green flag before finding his rhythm on lap four.  Elliott tucked in behind TJ Reaid in the No. 41 and the two young guns made their way around No. 38 Shane Sawyer on lap 23, moving Elliott into the top-five. 

After putting some pressure on the rear bumper of the No. 41, Elliott again tucked in behind Reaid as the two ran nose-to-tail and pulled away from Sawyer as the race continued under green.  By lap 78, Elliott caught Russell Fleeman's No. 98 machine and took over fourth place.

After 80 laps of green flag racing, the first caution flew for a report of debris on the track.  Elliott made his first report to the team on his new car, stating that the car had started snug and hadn't gone away at all.  Crew chief Ricky Turner gave his young driver a little boost when he told Elliott he had one of the best cars out there and to work the outside groove.

Elliott did just that on the restart as he lined up outside of Reaid on the second row.  Elliott held his line on the outside and cleared the No. 41 on lap 85 to move into third with his sights set on race leader, teammate Casey Roderick. 

Unfortunately, Elliott only had three more laps to make his march toward the front.  As the second caution came out on lap 88 for a spin by Dwayne Buggay on the frontstretch, the skies opened and the rain poured down on Lanier National Speedway, ending the race 12 laps early.

The third place finish is Elliott's fourth top-three in the 2009 Georgia Asphalt Series, including two wins.  Elliott led the point standings heading into Saturday's race and slipped slightly to second, just 20 points behind Bill Elliott Racing teammate Casey Roderick after seven of 13 events.  The next GAS event is Saturday, August 15, at Lanier National Speedway.

Elliott and the No. 9 Aaron's Dream Machine team are off to Pensacola, Florida's Five Flags Speedway to attempt their first Super Late Model start this Friday, August 7.  If all goes well, the team plans to travel north to Anderson (S.C.) Motor Speedway for Saturday's ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour event.