Bill Elliott scoots across the finish line for the victory at Homestead. Credit: ASP

Enduring Performance: Homestead-Miami

Owner Ray Evernham was pretty certain he was going to earn his first win in the 2001 Pennzoil Freedom at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He just wasn't sure which driver he was going to meet in Victory Lane.

	Bill Elliott gets a hug from NASCAR president Mike Helton. Credit: ASP
	Results 2001 Pennzoil Freedom 400 Pos. Driver Make 1. B. Elliott Dodge 2. M. Waltrip Chevy 3. C. Atwood Dodge 4. J. Burton Ford 5. S. Marlin Dodge • Complete results, click here 2001 FlashbackWatch Bill Elliott break a seven-year losing streak Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Would it be former champion Bill Elliott, seeking his 41st career victory, or newcomer Casey Atwood, searching for his first?

"I felt like a father watching his two sons out there today," he said. "I didn't care which one won, I just didn't want them to wreck each other."

Elliott and Atwood started on the front row -- and they were still 1-2 in the closing laps. However, it was Atwood in front and Elliott trailing -- until Atwood's car got loose with five laps remaining, allowing Elliott to win his first race in more than seven years.

"I was just staying with him and then I got under him, and he got real loose in [Turns] 3 and 4 and that's all it took," Elliott said. "Ray believed in me, and [crew chief Mike Ford] and all the guys believed in me. With 20 laps to go, Mike said, 'You can do it.' I just dug down a little deeper, and here we are."

Elliott said a decision to trade tires for track position late in the event turned out to be the winning move.

"Track position is everything," Elliott said. "That's why we put on two tires [at Lap 224]. We went in 11th and came out second behind Casey, and I said, 'I'll give it my best shot' and here we are.

"We were two-tenths quicker, but I didn't know if 20 laps was enough time to mow him down. It all comes down to 'When it's your day, it's your day.' "

Atwood faded to third behind Michael Waltrip at the finish. Still, it was his best finish of his 37-race career.

"I wanted to win real bad, but I'm real happy for Bill," Atwood said. "Bill Elliott has waited a long time for this.

"Hopefully, I'll have my chance, and this won't hurt me too much. We just didn't have the car at the end. He helps me, and we're close. Any question I have I can always go to Bill. He tells me straight. He is a guy I can trust."

For Evernham, the victory was especially sweet. After enjoying success as Jeff Gordon's crew chief, he left Hendrick Motorsports in 1999 to begin his own team. Helping return to Dodge to NASCAR's premier series for the first time in 16 years, Evernham had to be wondering when that elusive first win would come.

"I certainly wasn't getting frustrated, but sometimes you just get a little impatient," Evernham said. "Our guys have been getting more and more ready to win. Today, we had a good engine and good strategy. If we can keep that consistency, we'll have a lot more wins."

Rumors persisted throughout the weekend that Evernham was planning to hire Jeremy Mayfield to take over the No. 19 for 2002, which would force Atwood to Jim Smith's No. 7. Atwood downplayed any animosity between himself and his boss.

"We stand pretty well with each other," Atwood said. "Things will be fine, just give it a little time. We have a great relationship, and we're going to continue that ...

"Ray is just trying to make his team better. I'm going to be with Evernham Motorsports. I just don't know in which way or which car I'll drive. That will be discussed later. I expect to be with Ray for a long time."

Gordon, closing in on his fourth championship, finished 28th, one lap down. However, his nearest challenger -- Ricky Rudd -- was 21st after an accident in the pits left a NASCAR official and three of Rudd's crewmen injured, one seriously.

"After the accident on pit road, our heart just wasn't in it," Rudd said.

Elliott would go on to win three more races for Evernham -- Pocono and Indianapolis in 2002 and the final race at North Carolina Motor Speedway in 2003.

However, the tables would turn on Elliott at Homestead in 2003 when a tire went down while he was leading the final lap, handing the win to Bobby Labonte.

The rumors about Atwood would prove true, as he drove the No. 7 Dodge the next season. However, he failed to crack the top 10 again. Atwood would drive three more times for Evernham, including the 2003 Brickyard 400.

Mayfield would go on to win twice for Evernham in the No. 19 Dodge.