Published: July 20, 2016
Participating in spirit
Previous engagement prevented NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie Elliott from racing Tuesday
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
SLINGER — Donning a red T-shirt and blue jeans, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Chase Elliott heard it from multiple fans: “I wish you were racing.”
So did the 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, he said.
Elliott did not participate in Tuesday’s 37th SuperSeal Slinger Nationals presented by Miller Lite at Slinger Super Speedway because a previous commitment prevented him from race preparation.
“This a cool place and I think it’s a neat race,” Elliott said. “I’ve always heard such high things about the race and all the people that have been here over the years.
“I had heard about it for years and years and I love racing late models. It’s something I have a passion for.”
Elliott committed to race in the Slinger Nationals for the first time about five weeks ago. A few weeks later, he backed out because of previous commitments.
Elliott wanted to honor his commitment, however, so he came to the track to sign autographs in the VIP tent moments after qualifying and serve as the event’s grand marshal.
“I would love to come and race,” Elliott said. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I have a lot of interest in it. It’s a neat race track. I’ve always heard great things.”
Elliott sat in the VIP tent next to six-time Slinger Nationals champion Matt Kenseth, who was in his full race suit. Roush Fenway development driver Ty Majeski, also in his full race suit, sat with them.
“I wish I could be racing this year,” Elliott said. “Obviously, it wasn’t meant to be this year. I’m glad to be here nonetheless. I think these guys will put on a good show. They don’t need my help.”
Of the guys in race suits, Erik Jones, the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, was the event’s fast qualifier. He turned a lap in 11.221 seconds. Kenseth was second quickest at 11.253.
“It’s a great little short track,” Kenseth said. “I always have fun coming up here. … It’s fun to still come back.”
Nick Wagner was the highestqualifying Slinger regular at 11.281, third fastest. Majeski was fourth (11.306), Travis Dassow was fifth (11.343).
“I was thinking about skipping the Nationals to save some money,” Wagner said. “We had a couple guys throw in some of their personal money and that’s why we are here tonight. We needed this.”
The 12 fastest qualifiers made the 200-lap feature. The other 22 cars battled for provisional and qualifying races. Among those not in the top-12 included defending race champion Dennis Prunty, super late model Rookie of the Year contender Alex Prunty, 2016 two-time feature winner Rob Braun, former limited late model champion Ryan DeStefano and Bubba Pollard, a short-track stardown south.
Alex and Dennis Prunty were 1-2, respectively, in the first qualifying race, followed by James Swan and Braun. They all advanced to the feature.
In the final qualifying race, Jamie Wallace and Casey Johnson were 1-2 and advanced.
Elliott, who turns 21 on Nov. 28, is no stranger to winning highprofile late model races. He won the 2010 Winchester 400, the 2011 Snowball Derby, the 2012 World Crown 300 and the 2013 All-American 400.
Elliott made his NASCAR debut with the 2013 Camping World Truck Series. He made nine careerstarts, won one race and had seven top-10 finishes.
In 2014, he moved to the Xfinity Series and won the series championship. In 72 career Xfinity starts, he has 59 top-10 finishes, including five victories.
He is in his first full season with the Sprint Cup Series. In 24 starts, he has 11 top-10 finishes. He also has two pole positions, including this year’s Daytona 500.
Elliott stepped into the vacant seat in the No. 24 car made famous by future Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who won four Sprint Cup Series championships. Gordon retired in 2015 after a career spanning more than 20 years.
“You’re never pleased,” Elliott said. “We’ve definitely had some ups and downs. We’ve had some rough races these last few weeks. A lot of it being my fault and that I need to do better. I, unfortunately, have learned that the hard way.”
He doesn’t believe there was pressure for him to live up to any reputation set by Gordon.
“For me, you just got to go and try to your job,” Elliott said.
Elliott hasn’t had many chances to race his late model in the Midwest, outside of Michigan and Indiana.
What appeals to Elliott about Slinger, and what captured his attention about the track, is what he sees from Wisconsin drivers when they come to events in the south, such as the Snowball Derby in Florida. One of the drivers Elliott referenced was Majeski.
“He’s been doing a really, really good job,” Elliott said of Majeski. “He’s been coming down south and kicking everyone’s tail. I think that says a lot about the competition level up here.”
He hopes in 2017 he will sit at the same table, but in a race suit rather than a T-shirt and blue jeans.
“I’d love to come back,” Elliott said. “We just have to play it by ear.”
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Ryan Farrell withstood a caution with 10 laps to go and a challenge from Mike Held to win the 35-lap limited late model feature at Slinger Super Speedway.
“We’ll take that,” Farrell said in victory lane. “We’ve been struggling with the super late. We’ll take it.”
It salvaged a rough start to the evening that saw Farrell qualify 33rd in the super late model division.
Ryan Gutknecht was third, followed by Steve Schulz and Scott Ascher.
Held attempted to become the first two-time winner of the 10th all-time limited late model feature at the Slinger Nationals. He won it last year.
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Chester Ace benefited from a front-row starting spot and won the Midwest Truck Series’ feature. “We struggled in the practice, same thing in qualifying, but this thing was on a rail (in the feature),” Ace said in victory lane. “I can’t thank my crew (enough).”
Mike Meyerhofer was second, followed by Michael Corvo III, Kevin Knuese and Nick Egan.
It was Egan’s first appearance at Slinger after winning the 2015 area sportsman championship.
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