12/6/2020
RacinBoys
Elliott wins Snowball Derby Last Chance Race
By Chuck Corder (Pensacola, FL) -- A man on fire, Chase Elliott would not be denied another shot at immortality.
Elliott, two-time Snowball Derby champion and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champ, was dominant en route to winning the last-chance race for the 53rd annual Snowball Derby on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday’s 300-lap race, which has been moved up to 1:05 p.m. in hopes of dodging an anticipated chance of rain Sunday afternoon.
PHOTO CREDIT: Speed51
Augie Grill, Derek Grifith, and Chandler Smith joined Elliott in finishing in the top-four and punching their Derby tickets.
Elliott, who started 11th, came through the field and passed Grill for the lead in just 28 spots.
“Fortunately, we had a really good race and a clean race, too,” Elliott said. “We got the car a little better this morning, but I still think we can improve. It was not the Saturday we were wanting to have. But at the same time, I haven’t raced (Super Late Models) in a long time.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow and another Snowball Derby. Obviously, it’s a much longer race. We still can be better than where we are today. But, I’m proud of the way we improved and the effort to drive to the lead.”
Smith, who’s qualifying run was thrown out Friday night for having his cell phone in the car, came from the back of the 21-car field and passed 2018 Derby champion and NASCAR Xfinity driver Noah Gragson for the final transfer spot with just six laps remaining in the 50 lapper.
LAST CHANCE RACE
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 11 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA #9E
2 1 Augie Grill Hayden, AL #112
3 7 Derek Griffith Hudson, NH #12G
4 21 Chandler Smith Talking Rock, GA #26S
5 13 Sammy Smith Des Moines, IA #51S
6 5 Noah Gragson Las Vegas, NV #51G
7 10 Hudson Halder Cumming, GA #9
8 6 Carson Hocevar Portage, MI #14H
9 3 Kodie Conner Kannapolis, NC #45
10 4 Austin Nason Roscoe, IL #14N
11 12 Connor Okrzesik Mobile, AL #14CO
12 15 Kason Plott Marietta, GA #19P
13 17 Justin T Johnson Roxboro, NC #44J
14 14 Kyle McCallum Macon, GA #4M
15 8 Gabe Sommers Plover, WI #15S
16 19 Kyle Bryant Navarre, FL #79
17 9 Dalton Zehr Verona, WI #119
18 2 Casey Johnson Edgerton, WI #5J
19 18 Ryan Crane Panama City, FL #10C
20 20 Colten Nelson Moss Point, MS #8
21 16 Perry Patino Montgomery, AL #88
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
