Chase Elliott sweeps weekend with Gulf Coast wins

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – Chase Elliott started his weekend on a high note and ended it the same way by winning two late model events.

On Saturday evening, Elliott drove his No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet to Victory Lane at Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway. The following afternoon, Elliott returned to the site of his most memorable win to date -- the Snowball Derby -- and dominated the late model event at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., on Sunday to capture the checkered flag. At the end of the weekend, Elliott also was rewarded with the Best Average Finish award.

Elliott opened the race weekend on Saturday by qualifying third for the Miller Lite Super Late Model 100 at Mobile International Speedway. He started eighth after the field was inverted on Saturday night. Elliott steadily drove his No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet through the field. By Lap 50, he had improved to fourth while listening to his dad Bill Elliott, who was spotting for his son. Chase Elliott reported to his team that his car was good. Twenty-four laps later, Elliott passed Bubba Pollard for second and was closing in on the leader Augie Grill.

Two cautions interrupted Elliott’s momentum as he was attempting to pass Grill. However, at Lap 81, Elliott finally took the lead from him. The 16-year-old Elliott quickly extended his lead to a full straightaway, leading the second-place car driven by Mike Garvey.

The final caution of the Saturday event happened at Lap 98, and Elliott was able to hold off Garvey during the green-white-checkered flag run to finish first in front of a record field of 33 cars. This was Elliott’s first win in the Miller Lite Series since August 2010, and his third win overall.

On Sunday, Elliott lined up fifth for the season-opening Pepsi Next 100 event at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. Elliott qualified fourth for the event, which was postponed to Sunday because of rain on Friday, but started fifth after the field was inverted. By Lap 10, Elliott already had worked his way up to third.

Elliott fought hard all afternoon, working his way to the front under the watchful eye of his dad on the spotter stand. On Lap 84, Elliott cleared Augie Grill to take the second spot. With three laps to go, Elliott passed Jeff Choquette and crossed the finish line first, sweeping the Gulf Coast Series weekend.

Next up, Elliott will drive his No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Greenville Pickens (S.C.) Speedway on March 31.