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About Bill
Bill's Bio
BIRTHDAY: October 8,1955
WIFE: Cindy
CHILDREN: Chase, Starr, Britney
HOMETOWN: Dawsonville, Georgia
CUP CAREER WINS: 43
CUP CAREER POLES: 56
BUSCH CAREER WINS: 1
BUSCH CAREER POLES: 2
2002 was an improvement for his second year in as the driver of the #9 Dodge Dealers Dodge. Bill had 2 wins, 4 poles, 6 top-fives and 13 top-tens and finished 13th in points. He has his share of bad luck which kept him from getting a spot on the banquet awards. Look for him to strike back and reserve his name for next year...
Bio from BillElliott.com
Hard work and a passion for the art of racing turned an eager young driver from a small Georgia town into a NASCAR Winston Cup champion. In the 26 years since his first Winston Cup race at North Carolina Speedway, Bill Elliott has seen and done it all. Quiet and unassuming, he made a high-profile move in 2001 when he joined Ray Evernham and Dodge as they led the manufacturer's return to Winston Cup racing.
Free from his former duties as a team owner last season, Elliott proved that he still has the moves of a champion when he captured the pole at one of the circuit's most famous races- the Daytona 500. He made history once again in his No. 9 Dodge Dealers Intrepid R/T when he won the pole and the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 11, 2001. It was the first win for Evernham Motorsports and the first victory for Elliott since September 4, 1994.
The 2002 season begins Elliott's 27th year on the circuit. In that time, he has amassed 659 NASCAR Winston Cup starts, 41 wins, 51 poles, 160 top-five finishes and 294 top10 finishes. In March 2002, he captured his 52nd career pole at Atlanta. While Elliott's accomplishments are many, there are a few that stand out in his already legendary career.
In 2001:
Made his 650th career start at Dover Downs on September 22, 2001
Won his 41st career Winston Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Won the Bud Pole Award at the Daytona 500 and Pennzoil 400
With ,271,123 in official earnings in 2001, Elliott broke his career-high yearly earnings record of ,580,823 from 2000. His win at Homestead earned him his third largest purse and has made him the leader in total winnings for all Dodge drivers in 2001. After finishing eighth at Indy, Elliott became the first Dodge driver in history to break the million earnings mark in a single season.
Removed his name from the ballot of the National Motorsports Press Association's Most Popular Driver award. In 2000, Elliott won the award for a record 15th time.
Elliott's one win, two poles, five top fives, nine top 10s and 15th place finish in the points standings was his best overall output since 1994 when he won his last race prior to 2001 and finished 10th in the championship points standings.
Nominated as the fourth quarter NASCAR True Value Man of the Year for his philanthropic work.
Other Accomplishments:
He earned his nickname "Million Dollar Bill" during the 1985 season when he won a record 11 races and the inaugural Winston Million, a $1 million bonus from R.J. Reynolds for winning the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 at Talladega and the Southern 500 at Darlington in the same season.
Won the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship in 1988
Made his debut in a Winston Cup race on February 29, 1976 at North Carolina Speedway
In 1983 raced in his first full season on the Winston Cup circuit
Became driver/owner of his own team in 1995
On March 10, 2000, announced he was driving for Evernham Motorsports beginning in 2001 as the lead driver for the return of Dodge to Winston Cup racing
One of only seven drivers to top million in career winnings
Two time Daytona 500 winner
"Driver of the Decade" for the 1980s voted on by ESPN Speedweek's Fan Poll
1985 and 1988 American "Driver of the Year" Award
1985 and 1988 Georgia Professional Athlete of the Year
1998 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers of All Time in 1998ยท Received the "Race Car Driving Legend Award" from the March of Dimes
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