Aggressive Driving by Youngster Wrecks Elliott’s Weekend

Coming off one of their most disappointing weekends ever, the David Elliott Racing Team looked to rebound June 14^th back a Flamboro Speedway. The team began the day displaying the car at Centennial Park Mini Indy’s 20^th anniversary celebration. Everyone had a great time meeting new fans and running laps on the go-kart track before heading to the speedway for the evening.

With only minor repairs necessary after last week, the car was still running fast in practice and David finished 2^nd in his heat race. This qualified the #37 Pennzoil Chevrolet in the third position for the feature, behind the #34 of Jason Tremble and #10 of Shane Gowan.

At the start, David followed the #34 past Gowan and immediately began hounding the Tremble for the lead. Obviously faster than the leader, David would look inside on every staightaway while he patiently waited for the inexperienced Tremble to make a mistake.

Within a couple of laps, the flagman began warning Tremble that he needed to pick one lane. The driver of the #34 did not seem to understand the flagman’s signals as he continued to move from lane to lane, blocking every time David moved inside to pass.

During a caution on lap 6, the flagman came down from his stand and spoke directly to young Tremble. We can only assume that he wanted to make sure the driver, who is in his first year at Flamboro, understood that his blocking techniques were not allowed.

When the green flew and racing began again, so did the blocking. The #34 and #37 still managed to build a four car-length lead over the #36 of Gary Elliott. At one point, the #34 and #37 made contact coming out of corner #2, getting both cars out of shape. David backed off to let the leader gather up his car, but that enabled the #36 to close up to the bumper of the Pennzoil Chevrolet.

Just after the race past the halfway point, David got a great run off turn two and was able to get well under the #34. Going into turn 3, Tremble gave the #37 the bottom lane, then inexplicably chopped into the bottom lane (and David’s car) coming off turn 4.

The impact exploded the right front tire on the #37, causing David to slow dramatically as he entered turn 1. Unfortunately, the #36 of Gary Elliott had no where to go and ran into the back of his son’s car, sending it hard into the wall. David was uninjured, but the car suffered major damage as did the #36.

After the wreck, track officials finally black flagged Tremble, but it was too late. His blocking tactics has wrecked the #37 and damaged the #36 so badly that it was no longer competitive.

Tremble and his father, both of whom were still blaming the Elliotts for damages the #34 suffered when it spun behind the wreck of the #36 and #37 last week, were confrontational in the pits after the race. But the Elliotts and their crews laughed off the teenager’s bravado and ignored his disrespectful comments towards the two veteran drivers.

Next weekend, the Pennzoil Chevrolet will be on display at Rose-Hill Liquidation Outlet in Waterdown from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The team will be taking a scheduled weekend off before returning to racing on June 27^th, when the #37 Pennzoil Chevrolet may makes its first appearance at Delaware Speedway.