On a Saturday night in downtown Music City, it was clear that the Superstar Racing Experience had saved its best for last. The final race of the inaugural Camping World SRX Series season turned into a night to remember between Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, Awesome Chase from the Same Place, and Smoke.
After racing his father up front for much of the night, reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott was able to hold off Tony Stewart in the final laps to win the SRX finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The Elliotts spent much of the night up front, with Bill Elliott leading much of the early portion of the race before washing up in turns 1 and 2 on a restart, allowing his son to take a lead he would never relinquish.
"I had a ball. I got to race against one of my heroes, I got to race against Dad there throughout the race. And those are moments I'll cherish forever," Chase Elliott told CBS Sports in Victory Lane. "… I don't know what lit a fire under (Bill) tonight, but he was as aggressive as I've seen him in years. It was amazing and a lot of fun.
"I thought it was gonna be between he and I, and I think he just got a little high into (turn) one and missed that restart. But other than that, it was so much fun."
While Tony Stewart ran second to Chase Elliott, he likewise left the night victorious. Stewart won the SRX Championship, earning enough points during the heat races to clinch the title prior to the feature. Stewart's SRX Championship is now the latest accolade on a racing resume that includes three NASCAR Cup Series championships, the 1997 Indy Racing League championship, and the final IROC championship in 2006.
Stewart led the six week series in wins, sweeping the dirt races at Knoxville and Eldora. In all, SRX's race winners were Stewart, Doug Coby (Stafford), Ernie Francis Jr. (Indianapolis), Marco Andretti (Slinger), and Chase Elliott (Nashville).
Chase Elliott holds off Tony Stewart to win the SRX finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
1. Chase Elliott
2. Tony Stewart
3. Bill Elliott
4. Bobby Labonte
5. Paul Tracy
6. Ernie Francis Jr.
7. Michael Waltrip
8. Tony Kanaan
9. Helio Castroneves
10. Hailie Deegan
11. Marco Andretti
12. Willy T. Ribbs (DNF)
Tony Stewart continues to put pressure on Chase Elliott for the lead. Two to go.
Another restart with five to go. Chase Elliott once again clears Tony Stewart.
Paul Tracy's 15 total incidents are the most in SRX this season.
(This in six weeks.)
Caution is out with five to go. Guess who? Paul Tracy nails Marco Andretti going into Turn One and spins him out.
Restart with 7 laps to go. Tony Stewart was able to get a good restart, but can't quite pull even with Chase Elliott.
Caution is out. Chase Elliott will have to survive one more restart to try and take this from the SRX regulars.
Tony Stewart is able to get alongside Chase Elliott for the lead, but Elliott keeps getting a run off the corner to clear him. Coming to 7 laps to go.
10 laps to go. Chase Elliott continues to lead.
Tony Stewart is taking a look to the inside of Chase Elliott. The two raced together in the Cup Series in 2016, and now are racing each other again in SRX.
Restart with 17 laps to go. Chase Elliott leads Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, and Bill Elliott.
Caution is out. Willy T. Ribbs has crashed on the backstretch.
Green flag is back out on Lap 55. Bill Elliott gets shuffled out on the high side and loses a bunch of spots, allowing Chase Elliott to take the lead.
If you remember IROC, tonight's race is shaping up to have shades of 1999 at Michigan: That day, a thrilling race ended with Dale Earnhardt edging Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the victory in a photo finish.
Caution is out at Lap 50 just as Chase Elliott was starting to get a nose on his father.
1. Bill Elliott
2. Chase Elliott
3. Tony Stewart
4. Bobby Labonte
5. Helio Castroneves
6. Tony Kanaan
7. Paul Tracy
8. Ernie Francis Jr.
9. Marco Andretti
10. Michael Waltrip
11. Hailie Deegan
12. Willy T. Ribbs
There's a gap of well over a second between the Elliotts and Tony Stewart in third. The fight for the lead is firmly in the family.
