THE RACE AFTER THE RACE: Nearly 100 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, as well as a contingent of the NASCAR-family kiddos, battled Saturday for the right to be called champions at Atlanta Motor Speedway as they raced their handmade pinewood derby cars down a 30-foot track in front of Petty Grandstand. The competition was hosted by Sprint Cup Series team owner Ray Evernham and NASCAR broadcaster Mike Joy, and every scout received a certificate and T-shirt that said “I raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway.”

In the NASCAR families division, Christian Yates raced his No. 28 to victory over John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 78 Furniture Row entry in the first annual Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children’s Charities autotrader.com Pinewood Derby event. Scott Joy’s Jayski.com No. 7 was third and Skylar Riggs’ No. 66 ended fourth. Macy Waltrip, Layne Riggs, Todd Gilliland and Emilia Reutimann also competed, racing cars that they had built with their dads.

CHASE ELLIOTT WINS CHAMPIONSHIP: Twelve-year-old Chase Elliott, son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, won his first major racing title Saturday by clinching the Young Guns division of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Winter Flurry.

The Winter Flurry is a six-race competition for eight divisions of Legends, Bandolero and Roadsters.

Other champions crowned Saturday were Bubba Harry (Roadsters), Kyle Plott (Bandits), Trey Maughan (Outlaws), Rawlin West (Chargers), Justin Swilling (Semi-Pro), Jeff Haynie (Masters) and Billy Fulson (Pro).

Elliott’s crew chief is his father Bill, who said he was just “tickled to death that nothing fell off the car” during the race. But he shouldn’t start looking for a full-time gig in that arena, according to his son.

“He climbed out and said, ‘It’s junk,’” Bill Elliott said. “I guess he must have got that from me. But he’s doing a good job. Right now, it’s just been a good way to spend time with him. I didn’t get to spend too much time with my other kids, and I regret that.”

Chase Elliott, from Ballground, Ga., also sees these early races as a stepping stone for his future.

“It was fun,” Chase Elliott said. “We’re just working hard, having a good time. We’re moving in to a Legends car this summer and just want to keep moving up. I guess my goal is to get to Cup one day.”

His mother, Cindy, is bracing herself for that.

“I tried to deter him when he was younger; I gave him golf lessons, tried to get him involved in baseball,” Cindy Elliott said, laughing. “But ever since he’s been old enough to talk, he’s wanted to be a race car driver. And he’s doing a great job, having a lot of fun. I’m so proud of him.”