BILL ELLIOTT
NO. 9 DODGE DEALERS/UAW DODGE INTREPID
SONOMA PREVIEW
THOUGHTS ON SEARS POINT
“We had a good run there last year. I enjoy going to the road courses. It’s something different and it’s a nice little break from our normal schedule. I got my first win at Riverside so I guess you can say that I’m not as uncomfortable as some guys are on this kind of track. Starting up front is real important because it’s just so hard to get around someone at places like this. Having a good handling racecar underneath you never hurts either.”
TRAVEL TO CALIFORNIA
“It’s not that bad for the drivers. It’s the crew guys who kind of get the worst part of the deal. It’s good we have an off weekend coming up for everyone. It takes a little more out of you than you think going back and forth like that, but the way things have changed over the years it’s not as bad as it used to be. I know these guys train pretty hard and they’re in good shape. The way NASCAR is growing, we need to be in markets like California. In fact, it looks like next year we’ll be coming out here again.”
RACE NOTES
Bill Elliott is scheduled to drive chassis No. 24. Elliott ran this chassis last year at Infineon and Watkins Glen notching two top-five qualifying runs and a top-10 finish (8) at Infineon.
Bill Elliott will drive the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge this weekend. However, Trans-Am Series driver Brian Simo tested the No. 9 Dodge at Carolina Motorsports Park and is scheduled to standby for Elliott at Infineon.
STATS & FACTS
CAREER AT SONOMA
This will be Elliott’s 14th career start at Infineon Raceway. He has 2 top-five and 4 top-10 finishes at the track. Elliott has led three Sonoma races for a total of 28 laps.
SONOMA HIGHS
Elliott’s best start and finish at Infineon Raceway is third place, which he earned in the 1989 Banquet Frozen Foods 300.
SONOMA RACE NOTES
EVENT START FINISH STATUS LAPS LED NOTES
2001 Dodge/Save Mart 350 18 9 Running 0 -
2002 Dodge/Save Mart 350 5 8 Running 3 -
MOST RECENT RUN AT SONOMA
In last year’s Dodge/Save Mart 350, Elliott’s No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge was a factor all day, maintaining its top-10 position throughout the race and needing no major adjustments. Elliott started from the fifth position, moving into fourth place by lap 38 and had advanced to the second spot by lap 43. The caution flag flew on lap 63. Elliott came in for the final time and was barely beaten out of the pits by the leader. He then assumed the lead on lap 85. Crew chief Mike Ford made the call to stay out for track position during the final caution, knowing that the Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Intrepid could make it on fuel. Elliott battled with several cars and finished in eighth place, the highest finishing Dodge.
LAST WEEKEND
Last weekend’s Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan Int’l Speedway proved to be a busy day for Bill Elliott. Still on the mend from injuries suffered in The Winston, Elliott began the day in 16th place. Despite several early race cautions, he maintained his place within the top 15. He pitted early on lap 12 and took only two tires. He reported varying conditions with his racecar in the corners. On lap 38 Elliott came in again and the Dodge Squad made adjustments for a car that Elliott reported as having too much “bite.” He took four tires and the crew made a wedge adjustment that helped the handling in the ensuing laps. Elliott began picking off the field one by one once he returned to the track and began making his move in the top 10. A pit stop on lap 120 allowed the crew to make a trackbar adjustment and change tires again. Twenty-two laps later, Elliott reported his Dodge was vibrating. He managed to hold on without losing too many positions but was forced to pit 10 laps later under green flag conditions. A caution flag went out two laps later and Elliott was caught the last car on the lead lap. He finished 24th and gained two spots in the Winston Cup points race, moving him into the top 20 in 20th place, 165 points out of 15th place.
