Bill Elliot Switches over to Dark Side
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From: Baton Rouge, La
Bill Elliot Switches over to Dark Side
Friday, March 10
Elliott will drive a Dodge in 2001
Associated Press
HAMPTON, Ga. -- Ray Evernham got Bill Elliott, the established driver he wanted for his new team.
Evernham, the former crew chief for Jeff Gordon, said Friday he has signed 1988 Winston Cup champion Elliott to drive for his new team, which will begin competition in 2001.
Evernham Motorsports is the developmental team for DaimlerChrysler's Dodge division in its return to NASCAR's top series after a 15-year absence.
Evernham, who rose to stardom guiding Gordon to 47 victories and three Winston Cup championships, said from the beginning of this new project that he wanted to have one veteran driver and one talented youngster on his team.
The 43-year-old Elliott, with 40 career victories and 49 poles, fulfills the first part of Evernham's list. Nineteen-year-old Casey Atwood, considered one of the rising stars in NASCAR's Busch Series, is reportedly in line to join Elliott in Evernham's new Dodge Intrepids, although Evernham refused to discuss that.
"He's the perfect guy to be the cornerstone of our new team," Evernham said of Elliott. "First and foremost, he's a great driver.
"He brings a level of experience and winning from the driver's side of things that not too many people in racing have."
Elliott, who has owned his own team since 1994, has spent his entire career driving Fords. But, with team sponsor McDonald's leaving at the end of 2000, Elliott had a tough choice to make -- continue trying to find big-dollar sponsorship and stay with Ford or take Evernham's offer.
"This gives us the opportunity to make a fresh start with a very high-profile program that all eyes in the racing world will be watching," Elliott said.
Although he has driven a No. 94 car in recent years, Elliott's biggest successes came in his family car and cars owned by the late Harry Melling, both with the No. 9 on the side.
On Friday, Mark Melling, Harry's son, gave No. 9 to Elliott for his new ride.
"That's very special to me," Elliott said. "That number has meant a lot to me and my fans."
Accompanying Elliott to the new team will be several key members of his own team, including general manager Eddie D'Hondt and car chief Mike Ford.
Elliott, who hasn't won a race since September of 1994, and finished 21st last year in the season standings, is off to a strong start in 2000 with two top-five finishes in three races. He is sixth in the points race.
Dodge also announced recently that Petty Enterprises and Bill Davis Racing, both currently running Pontiacs, will switch to Dodges in 2001.
The Petty team fields cars for Kyle Petty and John Andretti, and will add Adam Petty.
Evernham said he expects to begin testing a prototype Intrepid in Homestead, Fla., early in April. The team will make its debut next February in the Daytona 500, a race Elliott has won twice.
Elliott will drive a Dodge in 2001
Associated Press
HAMPTON, Ga. -- Ray Evernham got Bill Elliott, the established driver he wanted for his new team.
Evernham, the former crew chief for Jeff Gordon, said Friday he has signed 1988 Winston Cup champion Elliott to drive for his new team, which will begin competition in 2001.
Evernham Motorsports is the developmental team for DaimlerChrysler's Dodge division in its return to NASCAR's top series after a 15-year absence.
Evernham, who rose to stardom guiding Gordon to 47 victories and three Winston Cup championships, said from the beginning of this new project that he wanted to have one veteran driver and one talented youngster on his team.
The 43-year-old Elliott, with 40 career victories and 49 poles, fulfills the first part of Evernham's list. Nineteen-year-old Casey Atwood, considered one of the rising stars in NASCAR's Busch Series, is reportedly in line to join Elliott in Evernham's new Dodge Intrepids, although Evernham refused to discuss that.
"He's the perfect guy to be the cornerstone of our new team," Evernham said of Elliott. "First and foremost, he's a great driver.
"He brings a level of experience and winning from the driver's side of things that not too many people in racing have."
Elliott, who has owned his own team since 1994, has spent his entire career driving Fords. But, with team sponsor McDonald's leaving at the end of 2000, Elliott had a tough choice to make -- continue trying to find big-dollar sponsorship and stay with Ford or take Evernham's offer.
"This gives us the opportunity to make a fresh start with a very high-profile program that all eyes in the racing world will be watching," Elliott said.
Although he has driven a No. 94 car in recent years, Elliott's biggest successes came in his family car and cars owned by the late Harry Melling, both with the No. 9 on the side.
On Friday, Mark Melling, Harry's son, gave No. 9 to Elliott for his new ride.
"That's very special to me," Elliott said. "That number has meant a lot to me and my fans."
Accompanying Elliott to the new team will be several key members of his own team, including general manager Eddie D'Hondt and car chief Mike Ford.
Elliott, who hasn't won a race since September of 1994, and finished 21st last year in the season standings, is off to a strong start in 2000 with two top-five finishes in three races. He is sixth in the points race.
Dodge also announced recently that Petty Enterprises and Bill Davis Racing, both currently running Pontiacs, will switch to Dodges in 2001.
The Petty team fields cars for Kyle Petty and John Andretti, and will add Adam Petty.
Evernham said he expects to begin testing a prototype Intrepid in Homestead, Fla., early in April. The team will make its debut next February in the Daytona 500, a race Elliott has won twice.
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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, 5 Speed, Superchip, 2 Superchip Decals (I Think They Add 5 HP Each), 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, 3" Body Lift, 1" Coil Spacers, 3" Blocks In Rear,Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors,Air Box Mod, Fog Lights Mounted In Front Air Dam ,4 Kc DayLighters, Back Up Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, 10 Inch MTX Blue Thunder SubWoofer, Tinted Windows. 35" BFGOODRICH ALL TERRAIN KO'S Mounted on 16.5x9.75 American Racing Baja Rims
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Pics @ http://www.angelfire.com/la2/ccla/
[This message has been edited by ccla (edited 03-10-2000).]
Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30
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From: washington,wv
The first thing I did after work was check jayski.com and found out all the rumors were true. I guess Bill did what he had to. He will always be a class act. After this season I will remove his license plate and number from my truck. I will always root for Bill but will not support him after this year. Guess I will change my user name after this season too. The only good thing I see out of this is he got his old number back.
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97 F-150 s/c 4x4 off road package. 4.6,k&n,dual exhaust.
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97 F-150 s/c 4x4 off road package. 4.6,k&n,dual exhaust.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,751
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From: Waltham Ma.
Bye Bye Bill. Oh well we will miss ya. On the bright side he hasn't won in a long time, so I do't think he will steal any races from the Fords.
By the way ccla I love your new animation
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bassani Cat Back, Superchip,Modified intake with modified K&N filter.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
By the way ccla I love your new animation
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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bassani Cat Back, Superchip,Modified intake with modified K&N filter.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Southwestern, Virginia USA
>>>>Well, Ford can say what they want. Outside of Yates, Roush, and possibly Penske there isn't a whole lot of help going to their other Nascar teams.
>>>>Elliott was left in a precarious position with no sponsor tied down for next year. Also Ford motorsports played some involvement in Elliott and Rudd losing their sponsors. Rumor has it that Ford whispered in McDonald's and Tide's ear to lure them to the Cal Wells team to help expand their camps. Ford is said to eventually be bringing in their factory Cosworth motors into Nascar and Wells teams are said to be the benefactor. For some reason Ford is taking an interest in Wells operation, could be a lot of future factory involvement in that teams future.
>>>>I don't see where Elliott had a whole lot of options. His team without a sponsor for 2001, the owner driver thing has not been a success for him to say the least, since leaving Junior Johnson he has become Ford's redheaded stepchild (pardon the pun
)after putting them back on the Nascar map in the 80's, and his career in Nascar like many other superstar drivers is coming to an end in a few years.
>>>>So in weighing the options mentioned above against going with Dodge and argueably the best crew chief to come down the pike in a long, long time (just ask Jeff Gordon, bet he wishes Ray was still there). The choice seemed pretty obvious to me. I hate to see Bill leave the Blue Oval, but in the same light it pains me to see him mired in mediocrity every year when I know he still has what it takes to win.
>>>>So come Sunday mornings in 2001 I will still be cheering for Bill Elliott in that number 9 Dodge. I'll just have to re-adjust my favorite blue oval man to fellow Virginian Jeff Burton in the Exide ride. But when, and I say when Elliott pulls that Dodge Intrepid into victory lane next year I'll be the one cheering the loudest. With the way that McDonald's car is running this year with Evernham help I might get to cheer this year. I first became a fan of the man because he drove a Ford, I then became a fan of the man because of the type of driver and person he was. Besides, I always thought that them Chevys and Pontiacs were the DARK SIDE, lol! Hell, least it aint no Chevy he's driving!
GO 94 in 2000!!!! GO 9 in 2001!!!
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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue
Westin Nerf Bars , Lund Bug Deflector , Kenwood 10 disc CD changer, Extang Black Max soft bed cover, Bodyguard Bed Liner
>>>>Elliott was left in a precarious position with no sponsor tied down for next year. Also Ford motorsports played some involvement in Elliott and Rudd losing their sponsors. Rumor has it that Ford whispered in McDonald's and Tide's ear to lure them to the Cal Wells team to help expand their camps. Ford is said to eventually be bringing in their factory Cosworth motors into Nascar and Wells teams are said to be the benefactor. For some reason Ford is taking an interest in Wells operation, could be a lot of future factory involvement in that teams future.
>>>>I don't see where Elliott had a whole lot of options. His team without a sponsor for 2001, the owner driver thing has not been a success for him to say the least, since leaving Junior Johnson he has become Ford's redheaded stepchild (pardon the pun
)after putting them back on the Nascar map in the 80's, and his career in Nascar like many other superstar drivers is coming to an end in a few years.>>>>So in weighing the options mentioned above against going with Dodge and argueably the best crew chief to come down the pike in a long, long time (just ask Jeff Gordon, bet he wishes Ray was still there). The choice seemed pretty obvious to me. I hate to see Bill leave the Blue Oval, but in the same light it pains me to see him mired in mediocrity every year when I know he still has what it takes to win.
>>>>So come Sunday mornings in 2001 I will still be cheering for Bill Elliott in that number 9 Dodge. I'll just have to re-adjust my favorite blue oval man to fellow Virginian Jeff Burton in the Exide ride. But when, and I say when Elliott pulls that Dodge Intrepid into victory lane next year I'll be the one cheering the loudest. With the way that McDonald's car is running this year with Evernham help I might get to cheer this year. I first became a fan of the man because he drove a Ford, I then became a fan of the man because of the type of driver and person he was. Besides, I always thought that them Chevys and Pontiacs were the DARK SIDE, lol! Hell, least it aint no Chevy he's driving!
GO 94 in 2000!!!! GO 9 in 2001!!!
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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue
Westin Nerf Bars , Lund Bug Deflector , Kenwood 10 disc CD changer, Extang Black Max soft bed cover, Bodyguard Bed Liner
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Huntingtown, MD USA
...and Bill thought he had difficulties winning in a Ford...
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97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.
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97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.
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Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 547
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From: La Mirada CA. USA
Well hell! My two favorite drivers have swithced on me. First Al Jr. goes to the IRL and now this!
Oh well, I'll just wear dark glasses a big hat and a fake mustache at the IRL event in Vegas and sit quietly and smile as Bill moves to the front of the field in that new Everham prepped Dod$@#, Dodg&%&$. Dammit I can't say it, MOPAR!!!
Ugh, I feel woozie.
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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.
Oh well, I'll just wear dark glasses a big hat and a fake mustache at the IRL event in Vegas and sit quietly and smile as Bill moves to the front of the field in that new Everham prepped Dod$@#, Dodg&%&$. Dammit I can't say it, MOPAR!!!
Ugh, I feel woozie.
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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Southwestern, Virginia USA
>>>>LOL, I hear ya Indyfan and like I said it could be worse. Two letters....GM, I shudder at the thought.
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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue
Westin Nerf Bars , Lund Bug Deflector , Kenwood 10 disc CD changer, Extang Black Max soft bed cover, Bodyguard Bed Liner
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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue
Westin Nerf Bars , Lund Bug Deflector , Kenwood 10 disc CD changer, Extang Black Max soft bed cover, Bodyguard Bed Liner
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 216
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From: Champaign,IL USA
No matter what he drives in the future to me he will always be Awesome Bill from Dawsonville. The man who first won the Winston Million, once qualified at Talledega at over 212 mph, won the Daytona 500, won the Winston Cup, and on and on and on. He is showing some of that old spark this year and all I can say is, Good luck Bill! I think it is a great thing for Dodge to have him and Evernham teaming up I just look at this way now we someone to help us beatup on those GMs.
[This message has been edited by ps398 (edited 03-14-2000).]
[This message has been edited by ps398 (edited 03-14-2000).]