Elliott Returns To ARCA Racing At Berlin Raceway

MARNE, Mich. – Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, will make his fourth ARCA Racing Series career start this Saturday, Aug. 11 at Berlin Raceway.

It might be the first time Elliott has raced at Berlin driving an ARCA car but it won’t be his first time racing at the .438-mile track.

In three late model starts at Berlin, the 16-year-old has posted three top-five finishes, including two runner-up results. Most recently, Elliott finished second to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch in the Rowdy 251 late model race held at the short track on June 19.

“We have had some decent late model runs at Berlin in the past,” Elliott said. “We had a strong run at our last trip there this summer when we finished second to the No. 51 car driven by Kyle Busch.”

Elliott has adapted quickly to the ARCA Racing Series and also has proven to be competitive. In three career starts, Elliott has posted three top-10 finishes, including two top-five performances. Elliott made his debut in the series on March 10 at Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway, where he led 22 laps and finished 10th. On April 29, Elliott placed fourth at Salem (Ind.) Speedway.

Elliott’s most recent run in the ARCA series was at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway on July 1. The Dawsonville, Ga., native led 12 laps and finished second in his first career road course race. Elliott was leading on the final lap and on the verge of driving his No. 9 Chevrolet to Victory Lane when he was passed by Andrew Ranger in the final turn of the 2.25-mile track.

Elliott wasn’t surprised by his team’s near-victory on the New Jersey road course.

“I knew we could do it because we really had an Aaron’s Dream Machine/Hendrickcars.com Chevy that was very capable of winning,” Elliott said. “It was just a mistake by me that took us out of it.”

In addition to this weekend’s event at Berlin, Elliott also will compete in two other ARCA races this season, including Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis., on Aug. 26 and Salem Speedway on Sept. 15.