Elliotts Help Close Out SRX Debut Season at Nashville

It’s the final race of the inaugural season for SRX Racing. This week the crews travel to Nashville and the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway before a packed house.

In the five previous races, Tony Stewart is the only repeat winner when he won two dirt track races. Stewart currently leads the point standings with 199.

In the lineup this week is the father / son match up of Bill and Chase Elliott. Not only will the Elliott’s race together, they will do so from the front row after SRX co-owner Tony Stewart gave up his pole position start to Bill Ellioitt

After a random draw the starting lineup for heat number one are:
Bill Elliott
Chase Elliott
Bobby Labonte
Tony Stewart
Marco Andretti
Ernie Francis Jr
Tony Kanaan
Hailie Deegan
Helio Castroneves
Paul Tracy
Willy T. Ribbs
Michael Waltrip

Bill Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of heat number one and the first 12 minutes of racing. Bill Elliott edges out for the lead with Chase in second.

Bill Elliott leads the race with son Chase in second; Bobby Labonte, Marco Andretti, and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

Tony Stewart has dropped to seventh place. Bill Elliot leads the race with son Chase right behind; Bobby Labonte, Marco Andretti, and Tony Kanaan round out the top five.

This week Hailie Deegan is driving the red/white/and blue car reserved for the local hero.

With eight minutes remaining in the heat, Bill Elliott continues to lead the race with Chase in second.

Ernie Francis and Tony Stewart battle for position with Stewart taking sixth place.

Bill elliott has led every lap so far with son Chase in second. Bobby Labonte is on Chase Elliott’s bumper and challenging for the position; Marco Andretti and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

Tony Kanaan reports that his car is lacking forward grip.

The caution flag comes out when the drivers reach the green flag lap limit.

The speedway reports that tonight’s crowd is the largest since the seventies.

Bill Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase alongside. Bill Elliott gets out in front for the lead but Chase battles for the lead. With less than two minutes remaining in the heat Chase Elliott takes the lead from Dad. But Bill Elliott is giving up and continues the battle and retakes the lead with less than one minute to go.

Thirty seconds to go, Bill Elliott has a near half second lead on Chase. Bobby Labonte and Chase Elliott battle for second.

Bill Elliott takes the white flag.

Bill Elliott wins heat number one with Chase Elliott finishing second.

The results of heat number one:
Bill Elliott
Chase Elliott
Bobby Labonte
Marco Andretti
Tony Stewart
Tony Kanaan
Ernie Francis, Jr
Paul Tracy
Helio Castroneves
Hailie Deegan
Michael Waltrip
Willy T. Ribbs

For heat number two the field will be inverted putting Willy T. Ribbs on the pole with Michael Waltrip starting alongside.

The starting linueup for heat number two:
Willy T. Ribbs
Michael Waltrip
Hailie Deegan
Helio Castroneves
Paul Tracy
Ernie Francis Jr
Tony Kanaan
Tony Stewart
Marco Andretti
Bobby Labonte
Chase Elliott
Bill Elliott

Willy T. Ribbs brings the field down for the green flag start of heat number two but it is Michael Waltrip who gets out in front for the lead with Helio Castroneves taking second.

The top five are Michael Waltrip, Helio Castroneves, Ernie Francis, Paul Tracy, and Hailie Deegan.

Pole sitter Willy T. Ribbs has dropped to last place.

The drivers are getting three wide as they battle for position.

With just under 10 minutes remaining in heat number two, Helio Castroneves takes the lead with Michael Waltrip in second; Ernie Francis, Paul Tracy, and Hailie Deegan round out the top five.

Tony Stewart moves up to fifth place.

Eight minutes to go, Helio Castroneves has the lead with Michael Waltrip in second;
Ernie Francis, Paul Tracy, and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

Helio Castroneves has a lead of over a second on Ernie Francis Jr who has passed Michael Waltrip for second; Paul Tracy and Tony Stewart round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out with seven minutes remaining in the heat for the green flag lap limit.

Helio Castroneves brings the field down for the green flag restart with four minutes remaining in the heat and jumps out in front for the lead.

Drivers are getting three wide across the track.

Three minutes to go, Helio Castroneves is in the lead; Ernie Francis, Paul Tracy, Tony Stewart, and Michael Waltrip round out the top five.

Tony Stewart has clinched the championship for the first SRX Racing season.

One minute to go, Helio Castroneves has a one second lead on Ernie Francis; Paul Tracy, Tony Stewart, and Bobby Labonte round out the top five.

With a lead of nearly two seconds, Helio Castroneves takes the white flag.

Helio Castroneves wins heat number two for his second heat win of the season.

The results of heat number two:
Helio Castroneves
Ernie Francis Jr
Paul Tracy
Bobby Labonte
Tony Stewart
Bill Elliott

Tony Kanaan
Chase Elliott
Michael Waltrip
Hailie Deegan
Willy T. Ribbs

The feature race for the final race of the season is 77 laps.

The speedway at the Nashville Fairgrounds was built in 1904. Country star Marty Robbins also loved racing and ran at numerous tracks including Nashville. More than once Robbins had to leave a race to make it to the Grand Ole Opry for a performance.

The starting lineup for the feature race is:
Bill Elliott
Bibby Labonte
Ernie Francis Jr
Chase Elliott
Tony Stewart
Helio Castroneves
Paul Tracy
Tony Kanaan
Marco Andretti
Michael Waltrip
Hailie Deegan
Willy T. Ribbs

Bill Elliott brings the filed down for the green flag start of the race and edges out Bobby Labonte for the lead.

Lap two, the top five are Bill Elliott, Bobby Labone, Ernie Francis, Chase Elliott, and Helio Castroneves.

Helio Castroneves bumps the wall but recovers and the track stays green.

Lap five, BillElliott has a quarter of a second lead on Bobby Labone. Helio Castroneves has taken fourth from Chase Elliott.

Lap eight, Ernie Francis battles Helio Castroneves for third.

Lap 10, Bill Elliott leads the race with Helio Castroneves in second; Bobby Labonte, Ernie Francis, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 13, Chase Elliott takes fourth from Ernie Francis.

Lap 15, Bill Elliott leads the race but is getting challenged by Helio Castroneves for the lead; Bobby Labonte, Chase Elliott, and Ernie Francis round out the top five.

Lap 17, Chase Elliott passes Bobby Labonte for third.

Lap 19, Tony Stewart passes Ernie Francis for fifth.

Lap 20, the top five are Bill Elliott, Helio Castroneves, Chase Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart.

Lap 22, Bill Elliott has a third of a second lead on Helio Castroneves.

Lap 25, Helio Castroneves battles Bill Elliott for the lead but so far Elliott has held him off.

The caution flag comes out on lap 26 when the drivers reach the green flag lap limit.

Bill Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 31 with Helio Castroneves alongside. Bill Elliott takes the lead from the inside lane with Chase Elliott passing Helio Castroneves for second.

Lap 33, the top five are Bill Elliott, Chase Elliott, Helio Castroneves, Tony Stewart, and Bobby Labonte.

Lap 39, halfway, Bill Elliott has a near half second lead on Chase Elliott; Tony Stewart, Helio Castroneves, and Bobby Labonte round out the top five.

Lap 40, Chase Elliott is closing the gap on lead Bill Elliott. Both father and son have stated that they are having a blast and are making memories that will last a lifetime.

Lap 45, Chase Elliott has caught up to Dad Bill and is challenging for the lead.

Lap 48, Bill Elliott leads the race with son Chase a quarter of a second back; Tony Stewart is nearly two seconds behind in third.

Lap 49, Chase Elliott begins the battle with Dad Bill for the lead.

Lap 50, the caution flag comes out for the green flag lap limit.

Bill Elliott takes the outside lane for the green flag restart with Chase on the inside lane. Bill Elliott takes the lead from the outside lane on lap 55 but in a three way battle, Chase Elliott takes the lead with Tony Stewart in second.

Lap 57, the caution flag comes out for a spin involving Willy T. Ribbs. Ribbs hits the wall when he spins out.

Willy T. Ribbs takes his car behind the wall and is out of the race. At 66 years old, Ribbs is the oldest driver in the SRX Series.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with 17 laps to go from the outsdie lane.

Chase Elliott beats out Tony Stewart to take the lead.

The top five are Chase Elliott, Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, Ernie Francis, and Bobby Labonte.

With just 15 laps remaining in the race, the drivers are getting very aggressive; beating and banging each other.

Bobby Labonte has passed Ernie Francis Jr to take fourth.

Ten to go, Tony Stewart is on Chase Elliott’s bumper but has been unable to pass him to take the lead. Bill Elliott is in third.

With nine laps to go, Tony Stewart begins the battle with Chase Elliott for the lead.

Paul Tracy passes Ernie Francis for fifth.

The caution flag comes out with just seven laps to go for the green flag laps limit. The final seven laps of the race must be green flag laps only.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with seven laps remaining in the race with Tony Stewart alongside on the outside lane. Chase Elliott edges out Tony Stewart for the lead; Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Paul Tracy round out the top five.

Marco Andretti takes fifth form Paul Tracy.

The caution flag comes out with five laps to go when Marco Andretti spins out after some contact with Paul Tracy.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with Tony Stewart alongside. Chase Elliott gets out in front for the lead; Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Paul Tracy round out the top five.

Three laps to go, Chase Elliott continues to lead the race with Tony Stewart two tenths of a second behind.

Two to go, Tony Stewart is on Chase Elliott’s bumper.

Chase Elliott takes the white flag.

Chase Elliott edges out Tony Stewart to win the final race of the season; Dad Bill comes in third.

The results of the race are:
Chase Elliott
Tony Stewart
Bill Elliott
Bobby Labonte
Paul Tracy
Ernie Francis Jr
Michael Waltrip
Tony Kanaan
Helio Castroneves
Hailie Deegan
Marco Andretti
Willy T. Ribbs

Tony Stewart noted that he was the last person to win the old IROC championship and is the first person to win the new SRX Series.

More than anything else, all of the drivers involved in the series have noted how much fun they had driving the cars and racing at the different tracks.