1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bill Elliott has announced plans to compete in at least 18 races with Spartanburg, South Carolina based Phoenix Racing this year. Elliott, the sports all-time most popular driver, will kick off the 2011 season during Speed Weeks at Daytona International Speedway as he will compete in the Daytona 500 for Phoenix Racing owner James Finch.
Although all 44 of his Sprint Cup victories have came in either a Ford or a Dodge, Elliott will be piloting Chevrolet’s for Phoenix Racing that will be powered by Hendrick Engines. “Ford has been a great part of my career, but it is time to move on,” states Elliott. “With James having the Chevy ties, I am looking forward to another chapter in my career.”
Elliott was able to get behind the wheel of the 09 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet in late January during pre-season testing. After a few runs with his new team on the newly paved surface at Daytona, Elliott believes the test was a success. “I feel we had a very good test,” says an emphatic Elliott. “I feel if we can just get going everything will fall in place. It takes any team time to learn to work together. We just need to focus on one race at a time and try to learn as quickly as we can.”
Elliott kicked off his 2011 campaign during Speed Weeks at Daytona in qualifying on Sunday turning in the 17th fastest lap overall, fastest of the go or go home cars. This guarantees Elliott and Phoenix Racing a starting spot in the 53rd annual Daytona 500. His actual starting position for Sunday will be determined in the first of two 150 mile qualifying races on Thursday.
Phoenix Racing has had success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, earning a victory at Talladega in 2009 with Brad Keselowski behind the wheel of their Chevrolet. The team has also earned four top ten finishes in the Daytona 500, a race that “Million Dollar Bill” has won twice in his illustrious career.
The 2011 season will mark Elliott’s 35th year competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Even at age 55, Elliott and Finch both feel that the Dawsonville, Georgia native can get the job done behind the wheel. “With the right equipment, he is ready,” stated Finch in a team release. “We’ll see what we can do.”
While “Awesome Bill” has had his share of success on the NASCAR circuit, he also enjoys helping his son, Chase, progress in his racing career. The 15 year old rising star has won several late model races over the last two seasons, many with his father serving as his spotter and driver coach.
“Chase has progressed very well,” explains Elliott on his son’s development as a driver. “Ricky Turner [crew chief] and Jim Barfield [shop manager] do a very good job when I am not there. It makes it easier for me to do my races and let them focus on what Chase needs.”
As far as his scheduling conflicts preventing him from attending all of Chase’s races in his third season behind the wheel of a late model, Elliott admits it is not as important now that Chase has more experience. “I do not feel it as important as when he started, but I still like to be there as much as possible.”
Devon Holder is a feature writer for SpeedWeekly magazine and SpeedWeekly.net
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