#40 Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 – PLM
LEBANON, MO — Chase Elliott, the 17-year-old wonder kid who’s already turned heads on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, lived up to the hype on Saturday night at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. Overtaking veteran Eddie Hoffman on lap 101, Elliott cruised from there in taking the inaugural Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Series in front of an estimated 2,500 fans. Afterward, race runner-up Chuck Barnes Jr. proclaimed the winner — son of legendary NASCAR champ Bill Elliott — as NASCAR’s next big thing. “He’s a hell of a driver, the best driver out here by far,” Barnes said. “It’s great to see somebody race at this level, someone who’s going to go on and do big things.”