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Elliott makes Snowball Derby with Last Chance Race win

By Chuck Corder

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 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

That put the Dawsonville, Georgia speedster into Sunday’s 300-lap Super Late Model race.

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.

Sunday’s running of the Snowball Derby been moved up to a 1:05 p.m. C.S.T. start time in hopes of dodging an anticipated chance of rain Sunday afternoon.

For more information, visit 5FlagsSpeedway.com.

Five Flags Speedway – Pensacola, FL
Snowball Derby Last Chance Race – December 5, 2020

1. Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA #9E
2. Augie Grill Hayden, AL #112
3. Derek Griffith Hudson, NH #12G
4. Chandler Smith Talking Rock, GA #26S
5. Sammy Smith Des Moines, IA #51S
6. Noah Gragson Las Vegas, NV #51G
7. Hudson Halder Cumming, GA #9
8. Carson Hocevar Portage, MI #14H
9. Kodie Conner Kannapolis, NC #45
10. Austin Nason Roscoe, IL #14N
11. Connor Okrzesik Mobile, AL #14CO
12. Kason Plott Marietta, GA #19P
13. Justin T. Johnson Roxboro, NC #44J
14. Kyle McCallum Macon, GA #4M
15. Gabe Sommers Plover, WI #15S
16. Kyle Bryant Navarre, FL #79
17. Dalton Zehr Verona, WI #119
18. Casey Johnson Edgerton, WI #5J
19. Ryan Crane Panama City, FL #10C
20. Colten Nelson Moss Point, MS #8
21. Perry Patino Montgomery, AL #88

Top four transfer into Sunday’s Snowball Derby

  • Associated Categories: Sports, NASCAR News, Other Motorsports
  • Associated Tags: motorsports, Auto Racing, Stock Car, Short Track, Asphalt, Late Model, Snowball Derby, #GAdrivers
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