Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway Reopens With Chase Elliott In Victory Lane
Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway Reopens With Chase Elliott In Victory Lane NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (September 4, 2010) – Chase Elliott was a month shy of his first birthday when Jeff Gordon won the final NASCAR race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but Saturday the second generation driver was the historic track's master as he claimed his first PASS victory this season and the second of his career in the Labor Day Classic 200. “The car was awesome,�?? said the 14-year-old Elliott, who led twice for 69 laps in the 200-lap green flag event. “This is a big win for us. I've always heard about this race track for a long, long time. For them to open it back up and come over here and run, I had a blast today.�?? Elliott's father, Bill, who won three poles at the track but never a race, worked with his son during a test at the speedway about two weeks before the facility's first race weekend since 1996. “To come back and win the first race here after all these years that it's been closed, I thought it was pretty cool,�?? said Elliott, who received the traditional Dawsonville, Ga., victory celebration – the blowing of the siren atop the Dawsonville Pool Room. It was clear from the beginning that Elliott's Ford and Jody Lavender's Chevrolet were the cars to beat. Elliott posted the second quickest time in qualifying with a 118.590-mph, 18.890-second lap, while Lavender was ninth fastest at 117.598 mph, 19.133 seconds. However, PASS required the top 10 qualifiers to draw for their starting positions. Lavender drew the pole, while Elliott picked ninth. Lavender immediately grabbed the lead when the green flag waved and continued to stretch his advantage. Elliott, meanwhile, had to work his way through the field. Elliott broke into the top 5 when he dove under Justin Allison in the third and fourth turns on lap eight. On lap 25, Elliott again chose the low groove in turns three and four to secure the fourth position, scooting under Trey Mitchell. Two yellow flags allowed Elliott to remain within striking distance. When the race returned to green-flag conditions on lap 38, Elliott took third from Ryan Blaney. Initially, Lavender, Devin Jones and Elliott were running nose to tail, but eventually Lavender began pulling away as Elliott pestered Jones. Elliott finally maneuvered around Jones on lap 84, once again choosing the inside lane in the third and fourth turns. By this time, Lavender had constructed a 3-second advantage. At the halfway mark, Lavender still possessed a healthy advantage over Elliott, but by lap 104 the Georgia native had cut the deficit to 2-seconds. Five laps later it was less than a second and by lap 112, Elliott had caught Lavender and was riding his bumper. When a competition yellow appeared on lap 128, nearly everyone pitted, including Elliott and Lavender. Elliott received four fresh tires and beat Lavender off pit road, but he still had to restart third behind Preston Peltier and Allison, respectively. Lavender was fourth. When the race restarted, Elliott shot to the front to the delight of the more than 7,000 fans who roared their approval. With 30 laps remaining, Elliott owned a 5-second advantage over Lavender. However, with 186 laps completed the race's complexion changed when Brandon Ward slammed the second-turn wall. In the shootout style restart, Elliott was on the pole with Lavender second. Lavender jumped ahead of Elliott when the green flag waved on lap 187 and began pulling away. “I just messed that up,�?? Elliott responded after the race when asked what happened on the restart. “I had a hard time seeing the flag and I didn't see it go green. I just got off there. It was my fault. “I thought we still had a shot to get him there even if it had gone green the rest of the way, but thank goodness we got that second caution and I had a shot to get him back.�?? The race's fourth yellow flag waved two laps after the race restarted from the third caution due to a one-car spin off turn four. This time Lavender lined up first and Elliott second. For two laps, they battled door handle-to-door handle before Elliott finally gained a clear advantage on lap 192. “The car was really good, especially once the tires cooled off a little bit. It was really good for quite a few laps and then they'd start to wear out,�?? Elliott said in addressing why he challenged Lavender on the outside. Once Elliott cleared Lavender he was never challenged the rest of the way. He finished 2.983 seconds ahead of Lavender and averaged 69.485 mph. Pole winner Andy Loden, who broke Terry Labonte's 18.905-second track record set in 1994 with an 18.815-second lap, placed third. Joey Coulter finished fourth and Jones took fifth. “The car was really good all day,�?? Elliott said. “I feel like we can still be quite a bit better. I think everybody needed a race to get a hang for what they need when we come back.�?? Elliott plans to compete in the Oct. 3 USAR Pro Cup Series event at HNWS. In the track's other races Saturday, Mack Little III won the 50-lap Limited Sportsman race, Michael Tucker took the 25-lap Stadium Stock event, and Gus Dean emerged victorious in the 35-lap Allison Legacy Series feature. For more information on Historic North Wilkesboro Speedway and the schedule for the Oct. 3 USAR Pro Cup Series race weekend, go to www.historicnws.com. --30-- For More Information Contact: Deb Williams 704-619-9630 reatta89@earthlink.net