Notes: Elliott's ability in 21 car wows Wood Brothers

DOVER, Del. -- Bill Elliott says he has nothing to prove to anyone, least of all his crew chief, the veteran Michael McSwain. But "Fatback" has learned a couple things in working with Elliott the last two weekends.

Autism Speaks 400

Lineup

Pos.	Driver	Speed
1.	Ryan Newman	152.925
2.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	152.387
3.	Bobby Labonte	152.304
4.	Kasey Kahne	152.040
5.	Carl Edwards	151.835
6.	Jeff Gordon	151.553
7.	Elliott Sadler	151.471
8.	Jamie McMurray	151.305
9.	Jeff Burton	151.203
10.	Greg Biffle	151.127

• Complete Lineup: click here
• Bud Pole Winners: click here

"He's an awesome talent. I don't have any question, now, why he won all those races and that championship," said McSwain, who moved sideways from his position as Wood Brothers/JTG Racing's competition director to crew chief on the No. 21 Ford now driven by Elliott, the 1988 Cup champion.

Elliott was temporarily inserted into the Wood Brothers' Ford in place of Ken Schrader when the car fell outside the top 35 in Nextel Cup owner points. If needed, Elliott has six guaranteed starts available due to his championship.

So far, the man who's won 44 times in his career hasn't come close to needing a provisional, which is no surprise to McSwain.

"It's like learning a new car, you know?" McSwain said. "I'm still trying to learn him and learn what he's really looking for. We ain't too bad. But he's some kind of talent, I'll tell you that much.

"We've got to learn each other some more [because] I don't exactly have his language figured out, so when I get that and we can really start rolling I'll feel better about it."

Elliott already does. And he discounts anyone's opinion that he was hired because of his provisionals.

"I could care less what people think," Elliott said of public opinion. "I'll do it my way. It's to the point where I've paid my dues, I've worked hard and done a lot of things and sacrificed a lot to be to the point I'm at.

"This is great equipment and we just need to show that on the racetrack. If we continue to do that, the rest will speak for itself."

Elliott starts 14th in his first Car of Tomorrow race. (Continued)