Bill Elliott has not run in the Daytona 500 since 2003. Credit: Autostock

Elliott to pilot No. 36 Chevy at Daytona

Former Cup champ will run MB2 car in Shootout, Daytona 500

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- MB2 Motorsports announced Wednesday that its No. 36 entry for the Daytona 500 will be driven by Bill Elliott, a two-time winner of NASCAR's biggest race.

Elliott will also drive the MB2-built No. 36 Chevrolet in the Feb. 11th Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, an invitational race for 2005 pole winners and former Shootout champions. Elliott earned his automatic berth as a result of winning the Shootout in 1987.

Frank Stoddard will serve as Elliott's crew chief for both races and also oversee Elliott's Daytona test session next week.

Credit: Autostock

An MB2 spokesman said that the team was still working to put together the sponsorship necessary to run a limited schedule of races for driver Boris Said, who competed in nine of 12 races he attempted for MB2 in 2005, including his first Daytona 500 in the No. 36 Chevrolet. Said had a best finish of third at Watkins Glen and best starts of fourth, at Infineon Raceway and Daytona's Pepsi 400.

In 2006, CENTRIX will be an associate sponsor on MB2's No. 01 and 14 Chevrolets plus appearances on each as a primary sponsor. CENTRIX also might appear in some races as the primary sponsor of the 36 car, but that has yet to be signed.

"MB2 has a top-notch superspeedway program and I am looking forward to being part of it," said Elliott, who will team with MB2's full-time drivers Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek at Daytona. "Both Sterling and Joe are good on the big tracks and having them as teammates gives us added potential."

Elliott, the 1988 Cup champion, has run a limited schedule the past two years. His last Daytona 500 appearance was in 2003.

"Daytona is a special place and the 500 is a special race," Elliott said. "I haven't reached the point where I am content to watch this race on television. I would rather be part of the action -- it's the big show."

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A 16-time winner of NASCAR's most popular driver award, Elliott has competed in 25 Daytona 500 races. Along with his two wins from the pole in 1985 and 1987, his Daytona 500 record includes nine top-five finishes, 14 top-10s and four Bud Poles. He shares the record for most Daytona 500 poles with Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough.

"We're thrilled that Bill will be joining us -- he brings a wealth of superspeedway experience to our MB2 Daytona 500 lineup," said Jay Frye, MB2's CEO and general manager. "The combination of Bill, Joe [Nemechek] and Sterling [Marlin] on the same team at a restrictor-plate venue brings plenty of excitement and confidence to our entire organization."

Frye also said that a sponsor for the No. 36 Chevy during Daytona Speedweeks will be announced at a later date.