Elliott 14th at Atlanta
"We got screwed up there, lost track position and the car got tight," said Bill Elliott after coming home 14th in the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. "That was it. It was a good day all-in-all. We just need to nip at it a little bit more. You can't win every week. We moved up a spot in the standings, and that's always good. We'll go race at New Hampshire next week and try to hold on to 15th place. Then we'll go home and forget about it for a couple of weeks."

Atlanta Qualifying Quotes
"Well, we picked up from practice, and that's always a good sign," said Bill Elliott. "I guess we just didn't pick it up enough. Sixth isn't a bad place to start, so we'll take it and try to get ready for Sunday. This track hasn't been that good to me since it's been switched around, but maybe we can figure it out and have another good run on Sunday. Two in a row would be really sweet."

Elliott Atlanta Notes

Evernham Motorsports and Ultra Motorsports form Partnership; Mayfield to 19, Atwood to 7
Evernham Motorsports and Ultra Motorsports today announced the formation of a new partnership. The agreement for 2002 outlines plans for Evernham Motorsports to field the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T with Bill Elliott as the driver as well as the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T with Jeremy Mayfield as the driver. Ultra Motorsports will field with the No. 7 Dodge Intrepid R/T with Casey Atwood as the driver, with a sponsor to be named later.
Full Story

Evernham Motorsports Announcement Set
Evernham Motorsports will hold a media conference at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, November 16 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Evernham Motorsports will announce plans for the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season.

Georgia Homecoming Sure to Be "Awesome" for Elliott
Fireworks, a cake and dozens of fans greeted Bill Elliott as he stepped off his plane Sunday night after capturing his 41st Winston Cup victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Thousands of fans will get the chance to show their support for the Georgia native when Elliott makes a homecoming appearance this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Full Story

Elliott Wins at Homestead!!
On Veterans Day at Homestead-Miami Speedway, NASCAR Winston Cup veteran Bill Elliott proved he's still got what it takes. Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, took the checkered flag after taking the lead from rookie driver and teammate Casey Atwood with less than five laps to go in the Pennzoil 400. Atwood, driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge finished third.
Full Story

Elliott Returns to Victory Circle
The last time Bill Elliott drove into a Winston Cup victory lane, it was behind the wheel of a Budweiser-sponsored car in September of 1994. Since then, Elliott had started 227 races without a win, but he returned to the winner's circle with flair Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, passing his young teammate Casey Atwood with five laps remaining to win the Pennzoil 400. It is the first win for Evernham Motorsports, a new team this season led by Ray Evernham. Dale Earnhardt Inc. driver Michael Waltrip also slipped by Atwood late in the race to grab second place.

Elliott Takes Pole at Homestead
Bill Elliott led the Dodge brigade during qualifying for the Pennzoil Freedom 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Elliott will start the race on Sunday from the pole position, qualifying in 34.788 seconds, at an average speed of 155.226 mph, to grab his second pole of the season. Casey Atwood will make out the all-Evernham front row, starting alongside his teammate in the second spot.
Elliott Qualifying Quotes

Elliott Homestead Notes

Elliott Hopes the Sun Shines on His Dodge at Homestead
The Florida sun hasn't shone brightly on Bill Elliott since the Winston Cup Series began racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1999. However, a recent test session at the 1.5-mile track gives Elliott reason to believe that the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T may heat up the south Florida speedway.
Full Story

Elliott Caught Up in Lap-One Accident at The Rock
"Kyle tried to get in in front of the 8 car. He couldn't get in and they clipped. Kyle spun. I thought he was going to stay down. I tried to hold my line, and Kyle came back up. I ran out of race track," said Elliott after being collected by the 45 car of Petty on the first lap of the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400. Elliott returned to the track to finish in the 40th position.

Elliott's Crew Fourth in Pit Crew Competition
The pit crew of Bill Elliott's number 9 Dodge finished fourth in the World Championship Pit Crew Competition at Rockingham. The crew turned in a time of 19.037 seconds to place fourth among 25 teams competing. Matt Kenseth's crew won the event, with a time of 17.695 seconds, the 17 crew set a world record and made it two years in a row for the Roush Racing stable to hold the World Championship Pit Crew title.

Rockingham Qualifying Quotes
"I guess that was a good lap for me. We picked up a little bit from practice, but just not enough," said Bill Elliott after qualifying 24th at Rockingham.

Elliott Rockingham Notes

Elliott Returns to the Place Where it All Began
When Bill Elliott suits up for the Pop Secret 400 this Sunday, he may be thinking about how far he's come since his first career Winston Cup start, which he made in Rockingham more than 25 years ago.
Full Story

Tire Trouble Spoils Atwood's Run at Victory Lane While Elliott Maintains Position in the Points Standings
A separated tire ended Casey Atwood's run to victory lane with his No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T as the rookie finished a respectable 14th in Sunday's Winston Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Trouble in the pits hampered Bill Elliott's chances for a strong finish. The veteran ended the day in 27th place.
Full Story

Phoenix Qualifying Quotes
"We ran on new tires, and I think a lot of guys went out on scuffs. I think the first lap would have been better on used tires," said Bill Elliott after his qualifying laps. "I used the first lap to scuff 'em in and then went for it on the second lap. The car has been good since we've been here. We struggled a little bit at first, but we got better and better and kept working with it. We'll see what happens Sunday."

Elliott Phoenix Notes

Elliott Looks to Turn Up the Heat at Phoenix
Bill Elliott heads west this weekend to a track where he has proven successful. In 13 Winston Cup races at Phoenix International Raceway, Elliott has one win, two poles and four top-five finishes at the one-mile oval, which opened to Winston Cup racing in 1988. He is one of only three drivers who has earned at least one pole and one win at the track.
Full Story

Elliott 20th at Talladega
"They (NASCAR) got what they wanted. That's all I've got to say," said a frustrated Bill Elliott after being collected in the last-lap melee, regulating him to a 20th-place finish.

Elliott Talladega Notes

Elliott Knows How to Lead the Pack at Talladega
A few tracks on the Winston Cup circuit stand out as Bill Elliott's favorite places to visit; but when it comes to getting the pole, Elliott is the fastest on NASCAR's biggest speedway, Talladega. Elliott has had many impressive appearances at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. He holds track records for the fastest qualifying time (212.809 mph, 44.998 seconds, April 30, 1987) and for the most poles by any driver (eight).
Full Story

Elliott 42nd at Martinsville
"We busted a radiator down there in that little altercation in one and two," said Bill Elliott after blowing an engine only 115 laps into the race. "It blew all the water out and the next thing I knew it was hot. It cooked the motor. I hate it for the guys. They've worked so hard on this race car week in and week out. It's just a tough situation. Martinsville is such a bull ring. It's kind of one of them bad days. You could have done it three or four more times and everything would have been OK. On this particular day, it knocked a hole in the radiator and all the water came out of it."

Martinsville Qualifying Quotes
"It's so tight here. If you mess up just a little bit it makes a hard day," said Bill Elliott. "This race track, when it cools off, it's so hard to get hooked up to. You've got to keep the car hooked up. I slipped down there where that new section is in turn four. I never could get it back."

Elliott Martinsville Notes

Martinsville Marks Final Short Track Race of Year for Elliott
Bill Elliott, who has made his best runs this year on the 1-mile or larger tracks of the Winston Cup circuit, will face his last short track race this year in the Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway this Sunday.
Full Story

Evernham Motorsports Announces New Marketing Group
Evernham Motorsports, LLC, which fields the No. 9 and the No. 19 race teams in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, has announced the formation of Evernham Marketing Services. The new group encompasses business development, partner management, brand management and media relations. President Ray Evernham has appointed Heather Petry director of marketing services.
Full Story

Elliott and Atwood Spend the Day Making Adjustments at Charlotte
Changing track conditions played havoc with the Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/Ts from Evernham Motorsports in Sunday's Winston Cup race at Charlotte. Bill Elliott, who started the day in 18th, managed to steer his No. 9 Dodge Intrepid R/T to a 15th place finish, and Casey Atwood piloted his No. 19 Dodge Intrepid R/T to a 24th place finish after starting in 29th place.
Full Story

Charlotte Qualifying Quotes
"It wasn't good enough, but it could have been worse," said Bill Elliott after his qualifying run. "It felt pretty good. The car seemed to be pretty decent, but we just couldn't get any speed out of it."

Elliott Charlotte Notes

Elliott and Atwood Bow Out Early at Kansas Speedway
What looked like a promising weekend for the Dodge Intrepid R/Ts of Evernham Motorsports ended in disappointment as the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge and the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Dodge exited early from the inaugural Winston Cup race at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway.
Full Story

Elliott Loses Engine, Exits Early at Kansas
"It just quit running," said Bill Elliott after the engine expired. "That's the best race car I've had all year. It's just a shame. We'll get 'em next week. My car was hooked up pretty good. Most of those guys had a hard time getting in. It was kind of edgy getting into turn one side by side and that's what made it difficult. The track was good. It's a great place to race, and I had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I'm not going to see the end of it, and that's the hard part of this business. A lot of cautions and a lot of things going on, and you'll have that at some race tracks. Unfortunately, it's here today."

"It's just a sport. It's not life threatening," said team owner Ray Evernham. "Tomorrow, we're all going to be happy and go to work. I hate it more for our sponsors, the Dodge Dealers and the UAW. We were hoping to get the car in victory lane, but if we keep doing what we're doing and getting there, some day it'll be our turn. It just wasn't today."

Elliott Qualifies Third at Kansas City
"The guys did a good job. We worked on the car all morning," said Bill Elliott after his qualifying lap for the Protection One 400 at Kansas Speedway. "We bolted on a new set of tires. I really didn't like those. They didn't have as good a feel to 'em. We elected to go back on the ones we started on and they worked. All-in-all, the guys did a heck of a job. We came here and worked on our race stuff. Then we worked on motor stuff. The guys made me look good.

"I'd just like to win anywhere. Sunday would be a good day to start. We came in a did a one-day deal (tire test). We ran two 50-lap runs for Goodyear, and it was really hot and humid. I think basically where we got most of our information from here was from Kentucky and Chicago. This place is more like Kentucky than Chicago. Goodyear does a good job week in and week out. They have to build a fairly hard tire for these new surface race tracks. That's what Goodyear is up against. They've done a heck of a job. I've run on other stuff in the past, and I'd rather be on them Goodyears. As long as you can stay in a competitive mode, I think you can put yourself in position to win. A lot of guys this year have been able to capitalize on being in that position. That's what we need to do. Last week I made a mistake getting under Bobby (Labonte). I got him a little loose and me a little loose and spun out and ended up with a bad day. We've got to overcome those deals and keep fighting back and keep qualifying well week in and week out. You've got to be able to capitalize week in and week out. Qualify good and get a good pit stall on pit road and be able to keep chipping at it all day long. The new surface and a little bit harder tire makes it a little more difficult. There again, Goodyear's kind of in a box because this track is a fresh surface. You have to come with a tougher tire so you don't have problems on a long run. That's always been the case on a fresh surface race track. Normally when we go back the second and third time, the groove moves up and the track gets a little more user friendly."

Elliott Kansas City Notes

The Bigger They Are the Harder They Fall; Elliott Finishes Fastest on NASCAR's Longer Tracks
Don't try to tell Bill Elliott that the shortest distance from point-A to point-B is also the quickest; the 26-year veteran driver will tell you that those rules just don't apply to him.
Full Story

Elliott and Atwood Attempt to Conquer the Monster Mile
An emotional day filled with American flags and patriotic songs kicked off Sunday's running of the MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Casey Atwood brought home his No. 19 Dodge Dealers Dodge in a season's best ninth place. Bill Elliott, making his 650th career start, got caught in an incident early on but managed to finish 30th.
Full Story

Elliott Finishes Number 650 in 30th
Bill Elliott's 650th start ended with a 30th place finish after an early accident with Bobby Labonte.

"I couldn't help it. I just busted my butt and got into Bobby Labonte," said Elliott. "I hate that happened. I told him I was sorry, but that doesn't help too much now. It wasn't that slick. I just did something I shouldn't be doing. On the positive side, the crew did a good job keeping us in the race, and we've still got our streak of no DNFs. It wasn't a bad finish considering."

"I don't know. I was letting Bill go by and something might have happened to him underneath me to make him get up into me, I suppose," said Labonte.

Elliott remains 13th in the Winston Cup point standings.

Elliott on 650th Start
Elliott, the 45-year-old 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup champion from Dawsonville, Ga., will make career start No. 650 on Sunday. Elliott's first start came on Feb. 29, 1976 at Rockingham. He has won 50 poles, 40 races and more than $26 million since. Elliott has quite an impressive record at Dover. In 36 career starts at the Monster Mile, Elliott has four victories, 11 top fives and 18 top 10s. In his first start at Dover on Sept. 19, 1982, Elliott qualified fifth and finished third. He won both races at Dover in 1988 and has led a total of 2,033 laps at Dover. Elliott spoke about his 650th start.
Full Story

Dover Qualifying Quotes
"It wasn't a bad lap. Pretty uneventful," said Bill Elliott after posting the 10th quickest lap in qualifying at Dover Downs. "We lost a little from practice. We'll keep working on it. We came with a different setup than we've run here in the past. It worked pretty decent. It doesn't look like anybody is excited today. I don't know if it's from what's happened the past two weeks or if everybody is so tired from the season. I rested some last week, but a lot of the crew guys didn't. They were too busy getting prepared for Loudon."

Elliott Dover Downs Notes

Milestones Mean More to Race Fans Than They Do to Elliott
Harboring a range of deep emotions over the tragedies that has affected millions of Americans in the past week, Bill Elliott will make his 650th Winston Cup Series career start, Sunday, at Dover Downs International Speedway - and under the circumstances he'll have given the milestone very little thought.
Full Story

NASCAR Postpones New Hampshire 300
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced the postponement of the New Hampshire 300 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H. The race has been rescheduled for Friday, Nov. 23.
Full Story

New Hampshire 300 Postponed: Driver Reaction
NASCAR announced earlier this afternoon that Sunday's scheduled running of the New Hampshire 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway has been postponed. Drivers gave their reaction to the postponement on Thursday.
Full Story

Elliott to Make Historic 650th Start on Sunday at New Hampshire
Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion from Dawsonville, Ga., will make career start No. 650 on Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway. Among active drivers, only Ricky Rudd (721), Dave Marcis (758) and Terry Labonte (699) have more starts.
Full Story

The Dodges of Evernham Motorsports Spend an Evening Under the Lights at Richmond
Bill Elliott, in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T, finished 17th, and Casey Atwood drove his No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T to a 27th place finish in Saturday's Winston Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.
Full Story

Elliott Survives Richmond
"I just kind of survived," said Elliott after finishing the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 in the 17th position. "Somebody checked up there at the end, and I hit Dave Blaney in the back hard. It was just one of them deals. We weren't that good tonight, but we weren't that bad, either. We'll try again next week."

Dodge Collects Two Wins in Three Weeks as it Marks 200 Days in Winston Cup Return
Dodge Motorsports took 500 days to build the Dodge Intrepid R/T Winston Cup race car from scratch, but only 184 days to win its first race and prove that its Winston Cup program is on track - and in Victory Lane.
Full Story

Richmond Qualifying Quotes
"I just got loose," said Bill Elliott after posting the 38th quickest lap at Richmond. "It was real loose off turn two, and I about spun out and hit the wall."

Elliott Richmond Notes

Evernham Motorsports Hopes This "Bill" Will Pass All the Way to a Checkered Flag Finish
Just a short trip away from the nation's capital, Bill Elliott is looking to continue governing a strong, late-season surge that has put his team up six spots and into the top 15 in NASCAR Winston Cup points standings since his last visit to Richmond International Raceway.
Full Story

Elliott Richmond Pre-Race Quotes
"It's been a pretty tough summer. We've tested a lot, we've done a lot of things. It's hard to keep a good, steady pace. That's what you've got to do the next number of races. We've got some pretty tough places we're going to go back to. It's a lot more physical than it was 10 or 15 years ago. You went around the race track at 150 mph 15 years ago, and you're running around 190 mph today. You need to be in a little bit better shape."
Full Story

Elliott and Atwood Earn Their Stripes at Darlington
The No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T and the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T from Evernham Motorsports earned their stripes during the 367-lap Mountain Dew Southern 500. Bill Elliott drove his Dodge Intrepid R/T to a fifth place finish and Casey Atwood piloted his Dodge Intrepid R/T to a 25th place finishing spot.
Full Story

Elliott Grabs Another Top Five at Darlington
Despite battling with flu-like symptoms, Bill Elliott 'grabbed life by the horns' and brought the number nine Dodge home in fifth place at the Darlington Raceway. Elliott, one of only three drivers to post no DNFs this season, drove through the late-race melee at Darlington and scored his second top-five finish in the past three races and fourth top 10 in the past six starts. Elliott climbed to 14th in the standings, and has gained five positions in the last six races. A five-time Darlington winner, Elliott scored his best finish in his past seven starts at Darlington.

"Bill Elliott did a great job," said team owner Ray Evernham. "It just proves that Bill Elliott has got a lot of racing left in him. It’d sure be nice to get him to win a race. If Mike Ford and the guys keep doing the job they’re doing we’ll get him there. That’s another top five for Evernham Motorsports, and I’m just ecstatic. Those guys never give up. They get better and better all day long. They fight hard. Bill gives 100 percent, and that’s what it takes to win races. I couldn’t be more proud of that group. Bill was top 10 most of the day. Mike made a good call and good adjustments to come in and take on the tires. Then he had a shot at a top five. Those guys fight hard. They’re survivors, and that’s what it takes. I’m glad a Dodge won again. I wish our Dodges could win, but as long as a Dodge is winning, I feel like we’re part of that."

Pictures from Darlington are now in the Photo Gallery.

Darlington Qualifying Quotes
"That was a good lap," said Bill Elliott after qualifying ninth for the Southern 500. "It was everything I had. We've got a top 10 starting spot, so at least we can see the front from there. We'll go to work now and get ready for the race."

Elliott Darlington Notes

Elliott's Winning Ways Are "Untamed" When Racing at Darlington
When it comes to conquering the "track that's too tough to tame," Bill Elliott knows it can be done - and he's got the stats to prove it. Elliott's success at the track leads all active drivers in poles, wins (tied with Jeff Gordon), top fives, top 10s and laps led.
Full Story

Elliott and Atwood Make Some Noise in Thunder Valley
It was a top 20 night for the Dodge Intrepid R/Ts of Evernham Motorsports. Bill Elliott finished 19th in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge, and Casey Atwood finished 17th in the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Dodge. Both drivers were able to keep their cars running and out of major trouble in a race filled with 16 cautions.
Full Story

Elliott 19th at Bristol
"They never gave up," said Bill Elliott after bringing his Dodge home in the 19th spot at Bristol Motor Speedway. "We fought and fought and fought. The car wasn't that good, but we weren't that bad, either. I think we gained a couple of spots in the points, and that's always good."

"Our cars weren't that good yesterday," said team owner Ray Evernham. "Bill probably had the better car tonight and ended up with some trouble and still got a 19th place finish. I think he picked up one or two spots in points, and that moves him in the top 15. We're kind of happy about that. I would have been interested to see if we could have got him some track position. Both cars should have finished in the top 15, but when you run third and 10th, top 15 doesn't sound so great anymore."

Bristol Qualifying Quotes
"I never made a qualifying run in practice," said Bill Elliott after qualifying 35th for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol. "That wasn't that good. We picked up from practice and everybody else slowed down. I wish we could have picked up a little more and got a front stretch pit, but we'll take it and go on from here."

Elliott Bristol Notes

Mike Ford Returns to East Tennessee with Elliott and Evernham
For Morristown, Tenn., native Mike Ford, racing at Bristol Motor Speedway is like coming home. Now the crew chief for Evernham Motorsports No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T, driven by Bill Elliott, Ford began his trip to NASCAR Winston Cup in the Tennessee hills.
Full Story

Elliott Hopes to Light Way to Victory Lane When Night Falls at Bristol
Bill Elliott said that he expected the second half of the season to run a little better for his No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T - and he's beginning to prove himself right. Elliott has been at his fastest since turning the halfway point at Daytona in July. He has earned three top 10 finishes in his last four races, including a season-high third at Michigan last week.
Full Story

Elliott and Atwood Make Bold Runs at Michigan International Speedway
Emblazoned with Dodge Ram trucks bursting through the hood of their race cars, Bill Elliott in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T and Casey Atwood in the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T finished third and tenth for Evernham Motorsports at Michigan International Speedway.
Full Story

Elliott Third at Michigan
Bill Elliott started the Pepsi 400 second and finished third, leading the most laps along the way. Elliott has now scored top-10 finishes in four of the last six races and ranks 16th in the series standings after the third-place finish Sunday at MIS.

"We had a good car today, but obviously not when it counted," said Elliott. "We got two tires on that last pit stop and it got too tight at the end. I just couldn't keep it down in the middle. You can't do that here."

Elliott Starts from Outside Pole at Michigan
"We're on the pole. We're just on the wrong side of it," said Bill Elliott after snagging the second starting spot. "It's part of it (being knocked off the pole by the last car out). I've been racing long enough and now qualifying is over and we'll worry about the race on Sunday. That's the objective now. Whether you're starting 39th or 43rd, the main objective is Sunday. We gained some from last time here, and that's the things you've got to do. Every time you come back to a race track you've got to get a little bit better. We came back and we were better, and that's the things we've got to keep working on."
Full Story

Elliott Michigan Notes

Elliott Ready for Breakthrough Run at Michigan
Bill Elliott typically makes a statement at Michigan International Speedway and this weekend he has the car to prove it. Elliott's No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T features a new paint scheme with the powerful image of a Dodge Ram truck bursting out of the hood. Fueled by the boldly painted car, Elliott is ready for the track where he captured seven victories and six poles during his tenure with Michigan native Harry Melling.
Full Story

Elliott and Atwood Find Watkins Glen Full of Twists and Turns
The No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T of Bill Elliott and the No. 19 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T of Casey Atwood battled the relentless curves at Watkins Glen International, the second of two road course races on the Winston Cup circuit, to finish 24th and 22nd.
Full Story

Late-Race Contact Sends Elliott to 24th at Watkins Glen
"The 9 car had a great day," said team owner Ray Evernham. "He just got knocked out of the way at the end."

Elliott Qualifying Quotes from The Glen
"I haven't been able to hit anything today," said Bill Elliott. "I couldn't even hit the wall, but I really wasn't trying to do that. We just need to be better. The car is real loose, but we'll work on it and hopefully we can have a good run on Sunday."

Elliott Removes Name from MPD Ballott
Bill Elliott, voted the National Motorsports Press Association's "Most Popular Driver" for the past 10 years running and 15 times total, has decided to remove his name from the 2001 award ballot in honor of Dale Earnhardt.
Full Story

Elliott Watkins Glen Notes

  Elliott Hopes His Crossing at The Glen Includes a Checkered Flag
In the second half of the 2001 season, Bill Elliott's performance is on par with the color of his Dodge Intrepid R/T - red hot. Elliott has collected one top five and three top 10s in his last four races. He has led in the last two races, and has brought home a fourth place finish at Pocono and eighth place finish at the Brickyard.
Full Story

Elliott Takes Home Another Top 10 at the Brickyard, While Atwood Gains Experience Running With Leaders
The day was filled with a lot of promise for Evernham Motorsports. Bill Elliott was starting second, and his rookie teammate Casey Atwood was starting one spot behind him in third. While Elliott brought home another top 10 and Atwood ran as high as second, the day didn't quite deliver on its potential.
Full Story

Elliott Eighth at Brickyard
Bill Elliott started the Brickyard 400 second and finished eighth. It was his fifth top-ten finish in eight Brickyard 400s and his third top ten in the last four races this season.

"We had a pretty good car today," said Elliott. "The problem is that some of those guys got out of sync on their pit stops and got track position on me. We got shuffled back and had to fight our way back up through that mess. I wasn't great today. I wasn't bad, either. We had a decent car. There wasn't a huge difference with the rules change. It wasn't that much easier to pass. We've come a long way in the past few weeks and that's what we've got to keep working on."

"Three or four weeks ago we would have been happy with a top 10, but we're hungry for top fives now," said team owner Ray Evernham. "We had two good cars, but the caution flags didn't fall our way. Our cars were as fast as anybody. I think it's still too early to tell about the impact of the rules change. I think we were just as good at Pocono last week. I don't think we've really had a chance to work on it yet."

"Obviously we would have liked a little bit more from the day, but it's another top 10 finish for us," said crew chief Mike Ford. "This series is about consistency and we've got three top 10s in the last four races. We're definitely headed in the right direction. We've been progressing week by week. But the rule change helped because some of the Dodges performed well today and we had three of them in the top 10. It is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, it's a sign of what's to come. For the No. 9 car, we've been making progress as the year goes on and we've been able to run in the top 10. With three top 10s in the last four weeks, we're definitely getting some consistency."

Elliott Starts from Outside Pole at Indy
Bill Elliott will start second in Sunday's Brickyard 400 after circling the 2.5-mile track at 179.565 mph in time trials on Saturday. "We need to be a little bit better, but I'll take it," said Elliott. "You guess at these things all day long and try to get your act together with what you need for qualifying, but some days you get it and some days you don't. Anytime you can run close to what you ran in practice, it's a good deal."
Full Story

Elliott Indy Notes

Elliott Looks to Kiss the Bricks at Indianapolis
The Brickyard 400 is one of the few races on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit that Bill Elliott has not won. He's come close - both qualifying and finishing in the top 10 in four of seven appearances there. But, he hopes that his debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a Dodge Intrepid R/T will be the factor that finally puts him in the winner's circle.
Full Story

Dodge Excited About Rule Change
"Maybe it'll get 'em closer. This sport needs Dodge to win a race this year. This sport needs Bill Elliott to win a race this year. It needs a Dodge to win. I think this is going to help." - Larry McReynolds
Full Story

Elliott Scores Season-Best Finish at Pocono
Bill Elliott finished fourth in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Elliott's fourth-place finish was his best of the season and his second top five of 2001. He jumped three positions in the NASCAR Winston Cup Standings and is now 16th after 20 of 36 events. Elliott, a four-time winner at Pocono, last had a top-10 finish at the 2.5-mile track on July 20, 1997. He finished 10th in that race.

"We had a good day," said Elliott after the solid run. "I was pleased. Mike (crew chief Ford) said at the start of the race to have fun, and I had fun all day long. The car wasn't too bad. I was a little bit tight there one time, but that last set of tires was the best. The weather change helped me a lot. I'm just glad it's over with. This is just like a win for us. As far as we've come in the last number of weeks. If we just keep digging, we'll get there. We changed a bunch of things this morning, and it all went in the right direction. At least I can see 'em now.

"We've run decent the last few weeks, but we haven't had a race like we had today. The motor ran good. The car drove good for the most part. We were best there at the end when it counted, and we were able to pull it out more. I don't think there's been any one thing that's been keeping us down. It's just been a lot of little stuff. It's stuff we've got to work through and try to get better each week.

"I ran out of fuel just past the start-finish line after the checkered flag. It never bobbled until then.

"We started off and the car was hooked up and ran well all day long. We've just got to keep working through this stuff. Ray and all the guys have really worked hard, and if we can just keep working, we've got the team that can do it. We've had some bad luck, but we've just got to keep getting better. That's where these teams beat us each week. We were kind of set up for the cool, and the race track kind of came to us. I feel like we had to grow as a team, and we've got to keep getting a dialogue of what these cars want.

"We needed a good run. Everything worked good. The car drove good for the most part. That's what we've got to shoot for each and every week. You never feel like you've got it turned around in this business, but if we can keep running like we did today, you never know. We couldn't run with those best guys at the end, but we weren't bad. We really need to run well at Indy. This race a year ago, I ran well in my car. We'll see what Indy brings us. It really pays good, so you need to run good there. These flatter tracks, you catch someone at a pretty good clip, but it's hard to pass 'em. I had fun, and that's what it's all about. I had a ball. I could stand a little more of that."

"Both cars ran good (9 and 19)," said team-owner Ray Evrenham. "Fourth and 15th, that's our best finish with Bill, and it's a lot better than our last finish at Pocono with the 19 car. I think we had the two top Dodges today. We had the top Dodge in qualifying and had the top Dodge finishing, and Casey was the top rookie. It was a good day. If we can keep making improvements, we're going to be OK. I've really got two good race teams here, and the guys are doing a great job. I can probably start staying home if they keep learning this way."

Elliott Qualifies 14th at Pocono
Bill Elliott qualified 14th for the Pennsylvania 500 with a time of 53.439/168.416 mph., improving on his 23rd place start earlier this year.

"We picked up over our qualifying in June, and that's what we've got to keep working on," said Elliott after his qualifying run. "We're still a half second off the good cars, but if we can keep working on it and getting a little better, than that's what we've got to do.

"We're hoping to get a good finish in the race. At least our last race we did finish, and I don't remember the last race before that we finished. We've got some momentum from some good top 10 finishes in the last few races, so hopefully we'll have a good day on Sunday. We'll just have to see."

Dodges Get Help
NASCAR officials announced today that modifications to the front air dam for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2001 Dodge Intrepid will go into effect beginning with next weekend's NASCAR Winston Cup event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This modification will allow Intrepid teams to extend their front air dam two (2) inches forward below the bumper from the current measurement. The front air dam is described as the area below the bumper. The bumper will remain in its standard position.

Elliott Looks for Luck, Top Ten Finish at Pocono
Bill Elliott's hopes for a top-10 run at Pocono Raceway earlier this year went flat when his left front tire blew, taking him from the top 10 to a 27th place finish. But the veteran driver thinks his return trip to the racetrack offers more promise.
Full Story

Elliott Pocono Notes

Elliott Finishes 21st at New Hampshire
"It was not a good day," said Bill Elliott after finishing 21st at Loudon. "We started off in 12th, and the Dodge was pretty good for the first part of the race. But, we made a mid-race pit stop and got shuffled back to 28th. Track position is pretty critical here, and we just couldn't work our way back up. Then, I spun on something and that pretty much did it for me. We've just never had a good consistent run here, and today is another example."

"I felt like, today, we had two Dodges that were very capable of running in the top 10," said team owner Ray Evernham. "We were caught on a pit stop and had some other problems that kept us from getting it done. Here, it's all about gambling on a pit stop and being in the right place at the right time.

"Track position killed Bill today, and then he spun late in the race. Track position is so key here, Bill's lap times were capable of being top 10 or even top five all day, he just couldn't get any track position. I feel like our cars were really competitive today, I just wish the guys got better finishes. But that's the way the guys learn. We had a couple of good race cars, we're just not able to get them finishing where they need to finish."

Loudon Qualifying Quotes
Bill Elliott had the fastest Dodge in time trials with a lap of 130.711 mph. He picked up more than three tenths from practice and will start 12th in Sunday's race.

"The crew did a great job getting the car ready for qualifying. I was one of the lucky ones I suppose. I had a lot of cloud cover when I got out there.. That's all that saved me. I can always go the other way, so it was good to pick it up from practice. I've got mixed emotions about it. This place has been kind of a tossup for me. I've been more bad than good. I'd like to hope this weekend will be better, but it's hard to say. I'll get through practice tomorrow and evaluate it a little more. I haven't had a decent package here in awhile, but we'll put our heads together and see what we come up with."

Elliott New Hampshire Notes

Four Dodge Intrepids Ranked in Top 25 at Midseason
After 18 of 36 point races on the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule, four of 10 new Dodge Intrepid R/T teams are ranked in the top 25 in the Winston Cup Standings. Sterling Marlin leads the way in fifth place, followed by Ward Burton (18th), Bill Elliott (19th) and Dave Blaney (24).
Full Story

Elliott Hopes to Keep Wind in His Sails from Chicago to Loudon
Blowing in from a top 10 finish in the Windy City, Bill Elliott knows that he'll need more than a strong gust to produce similar results this weekend at the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.
Full Story

Elliott Squeezes Out Top Ten at Tropicana 400
Thirsty for a strong finish at the inaugural Tropicana 400, Evernham Motorsports opened the day with Bill Elliott's No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T starting fourth. Elliott finished the day at 10th, his third top-10 finish in the past five races.
Full Story

Chicagoland Post-Race Quotes
"I think we might be down on motor," said Bill Elliott after notching a top ten finish at Chicago. "That's the best I've had a car drive in awhile, but I couldn't beat 'em down the straightaways. I don't know if we're out of drag or whatever. The track wasn't bad. It was pretty one groove, but other than that it wasn't bad. I was pretty disappointed. I wanted to finish a little bit better, but coming out of here with a 10th-place finish for us is a good day. We just need to keep nipping away at it. If we can get the car driving as good as it did today and get a little more aero wise and motor wise we'll be all right."

Elliott Chicago Saturday Quotes
Comments from Saturday morning's Winston Breakfast Club.
"Things are going pretty well so far. I really didn't know what to expect when this season started. When you look at these deals and say I'd like to be a little farther along than I am today, but I look at the whole program and Dodge has been out of it for quite a number of years and trying to build a program."
Full Story

Chicagoland Qualifying Quotes
"I ran better than I did in practice today," said Elliott. "The whole deal is yesterday we were pretty good, but a couple of cars were quite a bit quicker. I was pretty concerned with the race track. We put a little better engine in today, and they kept working on the car and getting it better and better and better. We had one particular set of tires I really liked, and that's what we ran. I was pleased. To come here for the first time and get everything going is great. We need to be a little bit better, but we'll keep working at it. We'll learn a lot from the Busch race tomorrow. We haven't run with any other cars on the track, so we'll know more after first practice tomorrow. Every step NASCAR makes seems to be significant, and racing here is another milestone."

Elliott Leads First Practice at Chicago
Bill Elliott led the way in the first practice session Thursday afternoon with a lap of 29.574 seconds, 182.593 mph. Elliott tested at Chicagoland recently and will run the same Dodge chassis that qualified sixth and finished ninth at Michigan earlier this season. The 45-year-old Dawsonville, Ga., native will make his 641st career start at Chicagoland. He has won 50 poles and 40 races in his career.

"It doesn't pay anything to win practice," Elliott said. "We ran 30.50s to 31.50 when we tested up here. We never went in qualifying trim when we tested. We just worked on our qualifying setup in that first practice session. I'd say the pole will be more like a 29 flat. We probably won't work much on qualifying in the last practice today. The track will probably be too cool. We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but I think we'll be in pretty good shape tomorrow."

Elliott Chicago Notes

Elliott's Outlook Sunny for Tropicana 400
Bill Elliott thinks Chicago might just be his kind of town. Elliott, in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T, is one of a handful of drivers who have had an opportunity to test at the new 1.5-mile speedway. He gives the track high marks for its smooth, quick surface and unique design, and predicts the race will be really fast.
Full Story

Disappointment in Daytona
"My car was so loose at the first of the race, that's why we lost a lap," said a frustrated Bill Elliott after the Pepsi 400. "Then we stopped short again and lost another lap. It's a joke. It's just a joke. I don't know what you've got to do. People got strung out too bad with ill handling cars. I was so loose at first I just couldn't do anything. It's disappointing as hard as these guys work. I'm just glad to get out of here safely and go on to Chicago."

Daytona Qualifying Quotes
"We came down here with a new race car, and you've got to keep sorting through this stuff," said Bill Elliott after qualifying for the Pepsi 400 in 49.577 seconds. "You've just got to keep working through it. All-in-all, the guys did a good job. We came down here last night and unloaded this car for the first time. We've never tested it. The other car had a lot of testing on it, and we knew pretty much how it needed to be set up. When you build a new race car, it always takes a couple of times to get things sorted out. We felt like we made some changes that will make this car better, and we think it'll race good. It's always kind of a chess match here in the race, so we'll see what happens."

Elliott Daytona Notes

Dodge in the Hunt for Daytona Glory
Entering the halfway point of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season at the July 7 Pepsi 400, the fleet of 10 Dodge Intrepid R/T teams are still seeking their first points' victory.
Full Story

Elliott Returns to Daytona to Defend His Pole Position
Bill Elliott returns to Daytona International Speedway with a gleam in his eye and a strong desire to put his red Dodge Intrepid R/T right back where it started -- on the pole.
Full Story

Elliott Tests Chicagoland Speedway
Bill Elliott, in the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T, was the second Dodge to test at the new 1.5 mile Chicagoland Speedway. Elliott and his crew chief, Mike Ford, gave the track high marks for the smooth surface and fast speeds The team spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the track, preparing for the inaugural race and working on setups for other similar tracks. Other teams testing included Bobby Hamilton, Jeremy Mayfield, Shawna Robinson and Jeff Green.
Full Story

Top Ten at Sears Point
"The car was not going into second, and I was missing a lot of shifts," said Bill Elliott after finishing ninth in the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway. "Other than that, it wasn't a bad day. On that deal with the 87, when he came off the corner he was trying to drive straight and I was still too far under him. I was trying to get out of the way, and he just hit my right front and went into the wall. What do you do?

"We're going in the right direction. Ray (team owner Evernham) and the guys are doing a great job. We were a little concerned earlier this morning about what was going on, but we've just got to keep nipping at it. We keep gaining a little bit every week. We didn't think we had a car that could win the race, but we had a pretty good car. If we could have got a little better track position, we would have come out of here with a real good day. Any time you can keep it between the ditches here you feel pretty good about it. This is a tough road course. If we'd had a couple more laps we might could have passed the 99 for another spot, but that's the way it goes."

Sears Point Qualifying Quotes
"That was pretty good," said Bill Elliott after qualifying 18th at Sears Point. "We were really loose, but we ended up in decent shape. I think we'll be all right for the race."

Elliott Sears Point Notes

No Dodging the Question: Pepsi 400 Front Row Could Belong to Elliott, Compton
For the second straight year, the Pepsi 400 front row has a good chance of looking identical to the Daytona 500 front row. Now, predicting who's going to win a pole position for a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race isn't an exact science. Sure, you can look at the practice speeds and pick out a few top contenders, but there's no telling who will blister the fastest lap.
Full Story

Elliott 27th at Pocono
"I did a little agricultural driving today," said Elliott after the race. "Everybody spun out and I didn't have anywhere to go. The grass was my only option. It didn't really hurt the car. It messed the air dam up a little bit. What hurt it worst was cutting that left front tire down. I think we would have been OK. I ran with the 18 and 20 a lot of the day, but it doesn't matter now because we finished 27th."

Ford Back at Track
Crew Chief Mike Ford, who left Pocono to be with his sick father, was back at the track on Saturday morning. Ford has plans to return to the track on Sunday to act as crew chief for Elliott, but that could change depending on the status of his father. Right now, Ford and Ray Evernham are taking it one day at a time.

Pocono Qualifying Quotes
"That's a lot better than I've been running, but it's a long way from that 52.785 (Ricky Rudd's lap). We were struggling with the car early, and we kept working on it and got a little better as practice went along," said Elliott. "We just needed more time. We'll go back to the setup book now and see what we're going to do tomorrow. We wanted to pick up half a second from practice, but we didn't quite get that."

NOTE: CREW CHIEF MIKE FORD WENT HOME TO BE WITH HIS SICK FATHER, TEAM OWNER RAY EVERNHAM WILL SERVE AS ELLIOTT'S CREW CHIEF UNTIL FORD RETURNS

"Our thoughts go out to Mike Ford and his family," said Elliott. "It's tough dealing with situations like these. He's doing the right thing being with his family. We wish them well."

Elliott Pocono Notes

Elliott 9th at Michigan
"I'm glad to finish anywhere, but a top 10 finish is always a good finish," said Bill Elliott after finishing ninth in the Kmart 400. "I never could get handling right today. We had to work on the tires a lot. Some of those guys were just better than I was. We'll just have to work on it and go on next week. We picked up a few spots in the standings (three), and we've got a lot of racing left this season."

"We got Bill in the top 10 and we got Casey some experience," said team owner Ray Evernham. "We've got to keep on doing that. The Dodges were good in the race, and Sterling had a shot at winning. I was pulling hard to see that happen. I feel that it's right around the corner. We did what we needed to today, and Sterling almost got a win. It was a good day."

Elliott Michigan Qualifying Quotes
"It was a decent lap. Everything went well," said Bill Elliott after turning in his qualifying lap. "We picked up quite a bit from practice. It seems like a lot of guys did, and that's what you've got to do here. Michigan is a typical place. It's a wide race track. It's a more forgiving race track. You can get away with a little bit more here. The guys did a good job setting up the car. The motor ran well. Now we've just got to keep expanding on this and get better for Sunday. Muhammad Ali and Action Performance got together with Dodge doing a diversity deal. It was a cross-promotion, and we'll see what happens. We've got to have something to change our luck.

"Qualifying really doesn't mean that much these days. It does as far as picking your pit position, but if you've got a good car you can get to the front. Michigan has always been a good race track for me. I've always enjoyed racing here. It's been good to me in the past."

Elliott Michigan Notes

Elliott Returns Number 9 to Michigan International Speedway
For Bill Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T, this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway will be a sentimental journey. He is bringing the car that made him famous -- the No. 9 -- back to the track that helped make him famous - where he collected seven wins and six poles driving for Michigan native Harry Melling.
Full Story

Winston Teleconference: Bill Elliott
Highlights of the NASCAR Winston Cup Teleconference with Bill Elliott, driver of the number 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge and Ray Evernham, owner of Evernham Motorsports.
Full Story

Dodge Program on Track with Dealers and Fans
Dodge Motorsports spent the 500 days prior to the 2001 Daytona 500 counting down the days in preparation for its return to NASCAR Winston Cup racing. Now, some 100 days into the 2001 season, Dodge is seeing its heralded return deliver new fans for the Dodge teams, heightened awareness for the brand and increased traffic in Dodge dealer showrooms.
Full Story

Bad Luck Bites Elliott at Dover Downs
Bill Elliott finishes 40th in the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover Downs, after getting collected in a lap-two crash. On the second lap of the race, Elliott hit a spinning Jerry Nadeau and was t-boned by Michael Waltrip after sliding down the track.

"It looked like the 25 and 26 got together in the corner. The 25 was trying to jam his way under the 26," said Elliott after the crash. "I don't know whose fault it was, if the 26 came down or the 25 went up. The 25 lost it. I thought the 25 was just going to slide around toward the center, and I was going to commit to the high side. When I did, he started up. We got together and then we got apart and my car just turned left down the race track. I guess Mikey (Waltrip) hit me in the side. We've got a lot of damage. It'll take awhile, but maybe we'll get back out. It's a shame it happened so fast, but that's just part of what we do."

With the accident, Elliott drops to 19th in the point standings, 545 points out of first.

Dover Pit Crew Notes

    BILL ELLIOTT (No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge)
    Crew Chief: Mike Ford
    Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry
    Front Tire Carrier: Ryan Buscaglio
    Spotter: Ray Evernham
    Jackman: Mark Jacobs
    Gasman: Rodney Rhodes
    Gas Catchman: Derek Jones   
    Front Tire Changer: Andy Thurman
    Rear Tire Changer: Jim Pohlman
    Windshield: Mike Ford

Elliott Dover Notes

Elliott 26th at Lowe's Motor Speedway
"I can't really say how the car was. I'm totally disappointed," said a dejected Bill Elliott. "We've got to get better than this. We started out strong, but we never could get a handle on the tires. Then we ran over something and had a flat tire. Ray (Evernham) spotted for us tonight and he did a pretty good job. He was giving me a lot of good information. We've just got to get better."

Elliott Starts Fourth at Charlotte
Bill Elliott will start the Coca-Cola 600 from the fourth position, his third top-five starting spot of the season and 12th at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"When I finally got started the track had a lot of grip," said Elliott after his qaulifying run. "I guess I'm the gauge for everybody else now. Going out first, at least things will be consistent, but we'll see what happens. You just try to see how much grip the race track's got when you go out first. After practice earlier today, my best lap was the second lap. I got off a good lap on the first lap and I said, 'I'll just go for it on the second lap.' I'm glad it's over with. With practicing so much in the heat of the afternoon, it's anybody's guess. You can flip a coin and put a setup under the car and figure out what you're going to do."

Elliott Charlotte Notes

Elliott and Atwood Hope Long Wait Pays Off at End of Long Day
For the drivers of Evernham Motorsports, the wait for the first victory has been a bit longer than expected, but hopes are high the waiting will end next Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600. Lowe's Motor Speedway has long been a favorite and successful track for team owner Ray Evernham and veteran driver Bill Elliott.