Submitted by Sheena Elliott
Jefferson, GA (July 5, 2012) – After a disappointing finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park in June, it was obvious that Chase Elliott was looking for redemption in the 29th Annual Commerce Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram World Crown 300 on Independence Day.
“We just really had a good car tonight,” said Elliott, after taking the checkered flag. “Hats off to everybody on our crew, everybody works really hard especially this season I feel like they’ve really made our race cars better.”
Elliott set fast-time in qualifying with a 16.609-second lap besting Stephen Nasse’s 16.644-second lap and Elliott’s teammate TJ Reaid’s time of 16.663-seconds.
The No. 9 led the field to the green flag and immediately began extending his lead. Many talented drivers had trouble throughout the 300-green-flag-lap race including Reaid and Nasse very early on. Max Gresham, Kenzie Ruston, and Casey Smith were some of the other strong pilots who ended their night early with mechanical troubles.
Elliott won the first 150-lap segment earning himself $4,000. The top-15 drivers were inverted for the start of the second segment and Kyle Benjamin went to the lead two laps in. Elliott carefully picked his way up through the field and re-took the lead on lap 208.
After winning the second segment and another $6,000, the young driver made a final pit stop while the hard-charging Ryan Blaney stayed on the race track and took over the race lead for the start of the final 50-lap segment.
Blaney’s old tires were no match for Elliott’s new ones and the No. 9 again found the lead on lap 254 and never looked back. Blaney, on the other hand, became one of the unfortunate drivers who did not finish the race after his rear-end broke and caused him to spin on the backstretch on lap 266.
Elliott took the checkered flag, and the final $10,000 for a total of $20,000, ahead of Bubba Pollard, David Ragan, Austin Theriault, and Cale Gale. Mason Mitchell, Matt Tifft, and Paul Kelley rounded out the top-eight and were the final drivers to finish the full 300-laps.
Racing action will return to Gresham Motorsports Park on July 18th for the JEGS Pro Late Model 50 and the local division features. For more information please visit www.RaceGMP.com.
Unofficial Results
1. 9 Chase Elliott
2. 26 Bubba Pollard
3. 77 David Ragan
4. 29T Austin Theriault
5. 83G Cale Gale
6. 55 Mason Mitchell
7. 89 Matt Tifft
8. 10K Paul Kelley
9. 71 Kyle Benjamin
10. 84 Clay Alexander
11. 98 Ryan Blaney
12. 2B Brady Boswell
13. 25 Ross Kenseth
14. 1 Mike Garvey
15. 36 Rodney Benefield
16. 118 Jimmy Henderson
17. 2 Donnie Wilson
18. 99 Casey Smith
19. 33 Brandon Jones
20. 39 Kenzie Ruston
21. 4 Erik Jones
22. 75 David Odell
23. 29 Spencer Davis
24. 51 Stephen Nasse
25. 92 Max Gresham
26. 23 Dalton Grindle
27. AK47 Allen Karnes
28. 41 TJ Reaid
