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Chase Elliott’s rookie season piloting the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine Ford is about to come to a close, and the young driver out of Dawsonville would like nothing more than to cap it off with a strong run in the 42nd annual Snowball Derby this week at Pensacola, Florida’s legendary Five Flags Speedway.

Elliott, who turned 14 over the holiday weekend, will make his first attempt to qualify for the 300-lap Super Late Model race, considered by many as the “Daytona 500” of short track racing.  The young driver will attempt to make it an exciting double header, as he also plans to enter the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model companion event.

“Our main goal at the Snowball Derby is to first of all make the race and then to be competitive and have a good showing ,” said Elliott about the prestigious event.  “The best Late Model drivers in the country will be here, and some NASCAR drivers – so the competition is going to be really tough.  But we’ve learned a lot in our runs at Five Flags Speedway earlier this year, so hopefully that will carry over to this race.  And then our goal is always to be there at the end of the race, save our equipment and stay out of trouble.

“None of this would be possible without my sponsor Aaron’s, Ricky (Turner) and Jim (Barfield), mom and dad and everyone who has supported us all year.  Hopefully we can go down there, make the race and have a good ending to this awesome season.”

Ricky Turner, Elliott’s crew chief and substitute spotter when dad Bill Elliott has been away at NASCAR races this year, has guided the second-generation driver to a stellar rookie campaign, including wins in the Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS), ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, and the PASS South Series as well as the 2009 GAS championship and Rookie of the Year Honors.

While Turner will be calling the shots from the pits this weekend, his name also graces the list of past winners as the 2002 Snowball Derby champion.

“Having Ricky with me this year has been a huge help, everywhere we’ve gone,” said Elliott.  “But especially here, he knows every turn and every bump on this track and he knows what it takes to run up front in this big race. I feel confident in Ricky, Jim and all the guys on the team to give me the best car they can every weekend and to work hard to keep us up front. I really hope we can get a good run here as a ‘thank you’ for everybody helping me out this year.”
 
Elliott made his first career Super Late Model start at Five Flags Speedway during the August 7th Blizzard Series event and finished 18th.  His other SLM start at Five Flags came on September 25th; after qualifying third and running up front, a failed engine relegated him to a disappointing 21st place finish.

The young driver had a strong run in his lone Pro Late Model start at Five Flags, starting and finishing third during the October 9 Night of Champions race.

The festivities at Five Flags Speedway kicks off Wednesday, December 2, with the 5th annual Cat Country 98.7/WEAR-TV Green Flag Party where fans will have the chance to meet their favorite drivers and enjoy live music at the track. 

The on-track action starts with Thursday’s practice for the Snowball Derby and the Allen Turner Snowflake 100.  The Snowball Derby hopefuls take to the track Friday for the WXBM Pole Night looking to be one of the top-30 drivers who are locked into the race on time trials.

The field for the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 will qualify and race on Saturday, December 5.  Fans can also catch the last chance qualifying for the Snowball Derby.

All the action leads up to Sunday’s 42nd annual Snowball Derby 300-lap Super Late Model event. 

Fans that can’t make it to Pensacola can still follow live action thanks to Speed 51 and Race Talk Radio, including live Internet radio coverage of the Snowball Derby and trackside updates throughout the four-day event.  Stay tuned towww.ChaseElliott.com

for the most up-to-date information and links to the coverage from Five Flags Speedway.

For event tickets and camping spaces at Five Flags Speedway, please call the track box office at 850-944-8400 or visit www.SnowballDerby.com.

Those who wish to vote for Chase Elliott in the 2009 Late Model Most Popular Driver Award presented by Aluminum Racing Products can vote now through December 6 by following the link atwww.ChaseElliott.com

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