JEFFERSON, Ga. – Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, finished 14th in the Slack Auto Parts 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Gresham Motorsports Park on June 9.
Elliott battled handling issues towards the end of the race that prompted for a pit stop while under a caution, but the 16-year-old driver persevered to the end and gained several positions by time the checkered flag waved on Lap 150.
Elliott still ranks first in the 2012 championship standings, three points over second-place and Gresham race winner Kyle Larson.
Saturday night’s K&N Pro Series East event at Gresham will broadcast on SPEED Thursday, June 21 at 3 p.m. ET.
Elliott started the race 12th, and when the event saw its first caution at Lap 11, he reported to his Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com team that he was pleased with the car’s handling. By Lap 27, he was running ninth.
The first of three red flags came out on Lap 76 for an accident. When the race resumed on Lap 80, Elliott was seventh. He consistently ran inside the top 10 as the race progressed at the half-mile track.
Once the race reached Lap 102, Elliott was running seventh but he reported to crew chief Lance McGrew that the No. 9 Chevrolet’s handling was now significantly loose, which was affecting his ability to drive it. When the caution flag waved at Lap 119, Elliott was 12th and radioed to his team that the issue needed to be addressed otherwise he might continue to lose track position. McGrew made the call for Elliott to come in the pits for track bar, wedge and air pressure adjustments. At the restart on Lap 124, Elliott was 21st.
Elliott continued to battle his way through the field and was able to gain several positions by time the race concluded at Lap 150. Elliott finished 14th.
Elliott has posted one win, six top-five finishes, 12 top-10s and led 50 laps in 20 career K&N Pro Series starts.
Next up, Elliott will drive his No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet in the June 12 ASA Midwest Tour super late model event at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis.
