PENSACOLA, FL :: Chase Elliott is a former winner of the Snowball Derby and now he’s looking for another victory in Super Late Model racing’s biggest race.  Elliott, who is uncertain of his future, got off to a good start in qualifying by setting a new track record with a 16.133 second lap.

“Now we can focus on the race,” Elliott said.  “Obviously, I had a good night last night clinching out starting spot.  Now, we’ve just got to focus on tomorrow and we can’t forget about tonight obviously.  I’m just glad to be with the guys I’m with and I take it one weekend at a time because when things go your way and your fast, it doesn’t mean this weekend’s going to be perfect.  You have to go about this weekend like it’s a normal weekend, drive the best you can and go from there.”

Earlier this year, Chase Elliot, son of 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott, became the first driver in Super Late Model racing to win the “Grand Slam” of Super Late Model racing having scored victories in the Snowball Derby, the All-American 400 at Nashville, the Winchester 400 in Indiana and the World Crown 300 in Georgia.  Elliott’s lone Snowball Derby victory came in 2011.  Despite his accomplishments in Super Late Model racing and despite victories in 2013 in the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Elliott’s future remains uncertain due to lack of sponsorship.

“We’ve got to search for a sponsor and go from there,” Elliott remarked.

Sitting on the pole and being a previous winner, Elliott knows what it takes to win in both the Snowflake 100 and the Snowball Derby.

“I feel like I’ve got a shot at winning here,” Elliott explained.  “I wouldn’t come down here if I didn’t think I could win this thing so we’re going to try and give it our best effort tonight and tomorrow.”

Qualifying Times

1. #9 Chase Elliott — 16.133
2. #26 Bubba Pollard — 16.245
3. #8 John Hunter Nemechek — 16.281
4. #98 Daniel Hemric — 16.313
5. #112 Augie Grill — 16.331
6. #99 Casey Smith — 16.338
7. #29 Austin Theriault — 16.343
8. #77 David Ragan — 16.365
9. #91 Zak Hausler — 16.37
10. #90 Grant Enfinger — 16.375
11. #25 Ross Kenseth — 16.405
12. #51 Erik Jones — 16.408
13. #51 Stephen Nasse — 16.409
14. #71 Kyle Benjamin — 16.413
15. #7 Paul Shafer, Jr. — 16.429
16. #96 Ben Kennedy — 16.436
17. #42 Chad Finley — 16.455
18. #41 T.J. Reaid — 16.457
19. #74 Preston Peltier — 16.458
20. #18 Hunter Robbins — 16.487
21. #15 Mason Massey — 16.495
22. #12 Derek Thorn — 16.497
23. #10 Johanna Long — 16.505
24. #129 Spencer Davis — 16.51
25. #53 Boris Jurkovic — 16.515
26. #22 Jeremy Pate — 16.524
27. #1 Mike Garvey — 16.527
28. #11 Logan Boyett — 16.552
29. #29 Landon Cassill — 16.552
30. #29 Anderson Bowen — 16.555
31. #2W Donnie Wilson — 16.559
32. #98 Mason Mingus — 16.564
33. #45 Clay Rogers — 16.568
34. #2 D.J. VanderLey — 16.578
35. #11 David Rogers — 16.578
36. #79 Kyle Bryant — 16.591
37. #2 Brady Boswell — 16.605
38. #36 Alex Labbe — 16.607
39. #45 Dwayne Buggay — 16.609
40. #9 Mark Kraus — 16.61
41. #49 Josh Hamner — 16.612
42. #23 Dalton Grindle — 16.62
43. #31 Kyle Grissom — 16.633
44. #52 Chris Wimmer — 16.639
45. #19 Lonnie Sommerville — 16.681
46. #41 Chris Davidson — 16.685
47. #5 Nathan Davis — 16.695
48. #60 D.J. Shaw — 16.702
49. #67 Jeff Fultz — 16.705
50. #99 Junior Niedecken — 16.732
51. #21 Cale Gale — 16.744
52. #5 Jerry Artuso — 16.752
53. #5 Dakoda Armstrong — 16.77
54. #47 Allen Karnes — 16.77
55. #73 Cole Powell — 16.804
56. #1 Tim Martin — 16.842
57. #10 Steve Dorer — 16.878