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His Star Rising, Chase Elliott Makes Return to Five Flags

This article first appeared in June 23 editions of the Pensacola (FL) News Journal.
Chuck Corder

How fast can Chase Elliott go?

For Elliott, the 15-year-old son of NASCAR great Bill Elliott, the hammer is down on a future that seems limitless.

Like the No. 9 he deftly drives, Chase Elliott’s blossoming racing career is moving quickly these days.

His life in the fast lane makes a Pensacola pit stop when he returns for the Print Now 100 on Friday at Five Flags Speedway. It is Elliott’s first Blizzard Series appearance since dominating the division en route to the season championship last year.

“We had a few good races last year,� the always-humble Elliott said. “That was last year; this is this year.�

The modifieds, sportsmen and bombers also continue their respective years when the gates open at 5 p.m. Friday. There also will be a fireworks spectacular in addition to the races.

Admission to the grandstands is $15 Adults; $14 Seniors/Military; $12 Students; $5 Child (6-11); Under 6 is Free. Pit passes are $25. The first 1,000 fans through the gates receive 3D glasses from Print Now for the fireworks.

Elliott provided plenty of fireworks last year with 13 wins in 40 starts across the nation.

Arguably, his most exciting victory came at the Snowflake 100 during Snowball Derby week last December when he navigated his way from dead last to take the checkered flag.

“We gotta go back, get to a starting point and try to get good,� Elliott said.

The precocious, baby-faced teenager that rapidly raced his way into the hearts of many Five Flags enthusiasts last year is a certified superstar.

Elliott became a member of the biggest name in the game when he signed a development deal with Hendrick Motorsports to run in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series East where he has a pair of top-fives in seven races this season.

Elliott garnered some national ink from Sports Illustrated in March. Earlier this week, he was rubbing elbows with Mr. Rowdy himself at Kyle Busch’s Rowdy 251 in Michigan.

Through it all, Elliott has remains supremely grounded. In fact, about the only part of Elliott that doesn’t travel at breakneck speeds is his ego.

“To have an opportunity to race in these world-class places, it definitely makes you appreciate everything everybody does for you,� he said. “We’ve had some pretty good races this point. There’s still a lotta room for improvement, whether it’s the preparation that goes on before you get to the racetrack or when you get there.

“We have to be more consistent as we try to contend for wins.�

Elliott noted the weight of the cars and the vastness of the bigger speedways as the biggest differences between late model and K&N racing.

“It’s not one thing in particular,� he said. “So much goes into racing. There’s a lotta little things you must do to make everything click and make you go fast.�

Whether up on the steering wheel or climbing the racing ladder, speed hasn’t been a problem for Chase Elliott of late.

 

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