DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (October 4, 2010) – Over the years, the historic Nashville Fairgrounds has produced some of the most memorable racing in stock car history. So it’s only fitting that what was likely the final race at the Fairgrounds ended in a side-by-side duel between two young drivers who appear poised to follow in the tire tracks of other Fairgrounds stars who went on to become stars of the Sprint Cup circuit.

But for Chase Elliott, who has won his share of major events this season, the final All-American 400 trophy is one that eluded him – but just barely.

With the final Fairgrounds checkered flag waving, he drove his Aaron’s Ford alongside T.J. Reaid’s car, but came up inches short of a dramatic victory.

Elliott’s first appearance in the 400 was part of an extremely busy weekend for the Bill Elliott Driver Development program, which participated in races at Kansas Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Nashville, with young Elliott doing the driving at Wilkesboro and Nashville.

His weekend started at Nashville, where he qualified his Aaron’s Lucky Dog machine third for the 400, just nine thousandths of a second off the pole speed posted by Donnie Wilson. The draw for the start put Brian Campbell on the pole alongside Reaid and left Elliott third.

Elliott then traveled to North Wilkesboro for a day of Pro Cup practice and qualifying. He qualified the Red Bull Ford in the eighth position and headed back to Nashville, where he would add his name to a list of track veterans that include Sterling Marlin, Darrell Waltrip and the late Bobby Hamilton.

“I knew this would be a difficult weekend for the entire team as well as myself, but we all discussed it and we really wanted to be a part of this last race here,” Elliott said. “So we were willing to do whatever it took.”

After an emotional introduction and pace laps, the green flag waved and 35 of the nation’s most talented Super Late Model drivers were off to the races.

Elliott lost four positions on a missed shift at the start but soon passed Donnie Wilson back for the sixth position and raced hard with Jeff Fultz and Bubba Pollard, finally taking the position from Pollard but still working on Fultz. 

Elliott was back in the top five when the first caution of the evening was displayed on Lap 35 and was in fourth before the 100-lap, halfway break.

At the break Elliott discussed the tire strategy with crew chief Ricky Turner.  They both remembered the outcome of the race at Anderson, Ind., when they took four tires at the break and everyone who took anything less lined up in front of them. So it was decided that they would take three tires.  Leaders T.J Reaid and Brian Campbell also took three but the third-place driver Fultz took four tires, and so Elliott would start in the third position with Ross Kenseth, the son of Sprint Cup driver Matt Kenseth, and Johnny Van Dorn rounding out the top five. 

Racing hard, Elliott passed Van Dorn on Lap 132 to take second place, with Kenseth following him past Van Dorn. 

Elliott and Kenseth put on a show for the rest of the evening. Restart after restart, the two battled for the runner-up spot, allowing Reaid to pull away and pace the field.  On Lap 185, Elliott finally pulled away three car lengths from Kenseth and set his sights on the leader. He was making up time to Reaid and went for the pass, pulling in front of Reaid on Lap 194 just as Josh Hamner spun and in the process put down oil all over the track. 

Elliott had just pulled in front of Reaid and nearly lost it driving into the fluid; Reaid did spin in the fluid, but luck was on his side, and the caution had just been displayed so CRA officials deemed him the leader and put him back in front of Elliott for the restart. 

Again Elliott would have to contend with Kenseth on his bumper while trying to get back to Reaid.

Elliott would come up a nose shy of the win as Reaid took the checkered flag.

From there it was back to North Wilkesboro and time to focus his attention back on his Red Bull Ford. Elliott and his driver development team have made strides learning each week what it takes to run in the highly competitive Pro Cup series. 

Sunday’s race would be no different. It was 250 laps of learning. 

By talking about the car’s handling over the radio and making adjustments based on that communication, Elliott went on to post his sixth top-10 finish in seven starts in the series.

 “I am really looking forward to running at Greenville-Pickens next weekend [Oct. 9] in this Pro Cup car,” he said.  “I feel like we learned a lot today and can take this information and grow it next weekend.  I really would like to get a win for Red Bull before the season ends and we have two more races to do it.”