Chase Elliott Makes Epic Comeback To Win Beau Slocumb Memorial 208 At GMP

JEFFERSON, GA – In a win reminiscent of his father’s 1985 comeback at Talladega, Chase Elliott recovered from a one-lap, lucky dog ineligibility penalty to take the checkered flag in the Beau Slocumb Memorial 208 Presented by US Auto Sales at Gresham Motorsports Park on Saturday, April 7th.

After starting on the pole, Elliott brought out the caution on lap 92 after stopping in turn four due to a broken sway bar arm. Once the caution flag flew, he got back underway and went to the pits. The track issued a penalty to Elliott for bringing out the caution flag, costing him a lap and making him ineligible for the lucky dog pass, which could have helped him get back on the lead lap.

The young driver persevered and raced his way back to the lead lap and then up through the field not once, but twice, to get the win.

“I don’t know how we did that. I told the crew whenever the sway bar broke, I wasn’t going to give up until the checkered flag waved,” said Elliott.  “You had to run as hard as you could run. I was out of breath because I had to run so hard. Fortunately, we had a long green flag run to where we could get our lap back.”

The entire 208-lap race was action packed as many big names were involved in multi-car wrecks early on including last year’s race winner Bubba Pollard who lost his motor on lap 30. The oil from the blown engine caused Pollard to spin in turn one and eight other cars were collected, most sustained heavy damage.

Willie Allen took the $2,500 for winning the first 100-lap segment of the race but he had problems during the second segment, which cost him multiple laps. Elliott won the final two segments.

This race is an emotional one for everyone involved as it is in remembrance of local racer Beau Slocumb who lost his life to cancer last year at the age of 26.

“This one is for Beau Slocumb,” Elliott said in Victory Lane. “We lost a heck of a racer last year, but he’s here with us in our hearts.” Beau Slocumb was a popular racer from Macon who died of cancer in April 2011.

T.J. Reaid finished second behind Elliott followed by Augie Grill,  R.S. Senter and Gus Dean.

Unofficial Beau Slocumb Memorial 208 Presented by US Auto Sales Results
1.    9 Chase Elliott
2.    41 TJ Reaid
3.    112 Augie Grill
4.    R.S. Senter
5.    56 Gus Dean
6.    1 Cody Coughlin
7.    2 Brady Boswell
8.    04m Michael Lance
9.    36 Rodney Benefield
10.  29w Mathew Wragg
11.  10s Shawn Simpson
12.  23 Dalton Grindle
13.  118 Jimmy Henderson
14.  18 Max Gresham
15.  26a Willie Allen
16.  71 Kyle Benjamin
17.  61 Chase Miller
18.  55 Mason Mitchell
19.  2L Levi Kyle McCallum
20.  51 Stephen Nasse
21.  97t Tanner Berryhill
22.  26 Bubba Pollard
23.  15 Colt James
24.  24 Austin Hill
25.  1G Mike Garvey
26.  29 Spencer Davis
27.  29b Anderson Bowen
28.  98 Russell Fleeman
29.  9m Mason Massey
30.  12 Eric Wallace