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Chase Elliott, Grill, Griffith & Smith All Make Derby in Last Chance Race

Elliott Gets it Done, Wins Last-Chance Race to Punch Derby Ticket; Grill, Griffith, Chandler Smith Round out Field

 

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 ahead of Sunday's 300-lap race, which has been moved up to 1:05 p.m. in hopes of dodging an anticipated chance of rain Sunday afternoon.

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.

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