BACK TO GALLERIES
Bill Elliott through the years
By Staff Report | Published: 13 Nov, 2020 26
Jon Ferrey | Allsport
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Jon Ferrey | Allsport
After his son, Chase Elliott, captured his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, take a look at Bill Elliott's career through the years.
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Feb. 29, 1976, marked Bill Elliott's first NASCAR Cup Series start. Over a 37-year span, Elliott would start 828 races, winning 44 of them and claiming the 1988 series championship.
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1983
Bill Elliott's first NASCAR Cup Series win came on Nov. 20, 1983, at the Riverside International Raceway road course.4 of 26
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1985
Bill Elliott won a $1 million bonus by winning three of four prestigious "Grand Slam" races. Elliott won the Daytona 500, at Talladega Superspeedway and, eventually, at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500 (pictured).5 of 26
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1985
Bill Elliott in Victory Lane after a win at Michigan International Speedway. With seven victories, Michigan is his winningest track.6 of 26
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1986
The Dawsonville, Georgia, native wheeled his No. 9 to Victory Lane at his home track for the very first time. Bill Elliott would collect four more wins to make it five career victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway.7 of 26
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1987
Bill Elliott and Dale Earnhardt upped their competition with one another in '87's All-Star Race, creating one of NASCAR's most memorable moments -- the "Pass in the Grass."8 of 26
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1987
At 212.809 mph, Bill Elliott holds the fastest qualifying speed at Talladega. The record, set before the restrictor-plate era, has stood for more than 30 years.9 of 26
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1987
In the same season, Bill Elliott notched the top qualifying speed at Daytona International Speedway at 210.364 mph. It's still a NASCAR record.10 of 26
1988
It was a little hot at Darlington. Bill Elliott, driving the No. 9 Melling Racing Enterprises Ford Thunderbird, was OK sweating it out after winning the Southern 500 from the pole.11 of 26
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1988
Bill Elliott won his first and only NASCAR Cup Series championship on Nov. 20, 1988. That season, Elliott recorded six wins, 15 top fives, 22 top 10s and six poles.12 of 26
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1991:
Bill Elliott's final win for Melling Racing came in the summer race at Daytona as he led a 1-2-3 finish for Fords across the finish line. Elliott won 34 times for Melling from 1983 to 1991.13 of 26
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1992:
From 1992 to 1994, Bill Elliott moved over to drive for team owner Junior Johnson and scored six wins. He won five times in 1992 and finished second in the standings by 10 points to champion Alan Kulwicki.14 of 26
David Taylor | Allsport
1995: Bill Elliott competed as a self-funded driver, fielding his own team from 1995 to 2000.
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1997: Bill Elliott was always a popular driver among the fans and that is evidenced by the volume of NMPA Most Popular Driver Award wins he has. Elliott won the award a record 16 times (1984-88, 1991 to 2000 and 2002).
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Darrell Ingham | Allsport
2001: Bill Elliott snaps a 226-race winless streak with a victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The win was also the first for Ray Evernham as a team owner.
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2003
In the 2003 Rockingham race, Bill Elliott earned his 44th and final career win.18 of 26
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2010
Wheeling the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, Bill Elliott earned a 16th-place result for the organization and even led for a lap -- the last lap he has led in his career.19 of 26
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2012
Bill Elliott's final NASCAR Cup Series start was 2012's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. After starting sixth, Elliott walked away 37th due to a crash.20 of 26
2013
The Gander Trucks race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park marked the first time Bill Elliott saw son Chase reach Victory Lane in one of NASCAR's national series.21 of 26
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2015
Bill Elliott with his wife, Cindy, after his induction into the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.22 of 26
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2016
Bill Elliott with Chase at the Daytona 500. This would mark his son's first start in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet during his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season. And to top it all off, he earned the pole for the season opener.23 of 26
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2018
Bill Elliott waited a long time to see his son Chase in Victory Lane at NASCAR's top level, and on Aug. 5, the No. 9 wheeled its way to the checkered flag at Watkins Glen International. With Bill helping as one of Chase's spotters around the road course, it was a special moment for father and son.24 of 26
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2018
On Aug. 25, the Dawsonville legend suited back up at age 62 for a one-off start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Road America for GMS Racing. He started 23rd and finished 20th.25 of 26
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2020
On Nov. 8, Bill Elliott's son, Chase, won his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship in the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix Raceway. Bill and Chase are just the third father-son duo to both win championships in NASCAR history. Here, Bill, Chase and mother Cindy celebrate with the Bill France Cup after a five-win 2020 season for Dawsonville's favorite son.26 of 26
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media