Lead Lap's NASCAR News » Bill Elliott

Turner Motorsports Announces Cup Series Crew Chief

Michael J Smith — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:59:55 +0000

Turner Motorsports announced that Nationwide Series crew chief Trent Owens will have the same role on the team’s No. 50 Wal-Mart Chevy, which will make its debut in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in July. Bill Elliott will pilot the car in that race. Owens, who has four wins as a crew chief, served as a crew chief with Braun Racing for six years and remained with the organization when it was acquired by Turner two years ago.

Owens said:

It’s exciting to be part of Turner Motorsports’ first Cup race with Bill Elliott and support from Walmart. We’ve come a long way in just the last two years, so to take this step is really going to be a milestone for everyone who works so hard for this team every day.

Elliott To Drive For NEMCO Motorsports In Daytona 500

Michael J Smith — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:54:28 +0000

NEMCO Motorsports, the team owned by Joe Nemechek, announced that Bill Elliott will drive the team’s No. 97 Sprint Cup Toyota in the 2012 Daytona 500.

Elliott said:

I am really excited to be racing with NEMCO Motorsports and Joe Nemechek, who has been a friend and respected competitor through the years. This will be a great way to start off the 2012 NASCAR season in Daytona.

In related news, the team’s No. 87 Toyota will be sponsored by AM FM Energy in the Daytona 500. AM FM will also serve as an associate sponsor for the team’s Nationwide Series entry in the season-opening Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona.

AM FM will appear on the Cup and N’Wide cars in select races throughout the season.

Elliott To Drive Wal-Mart Chevy At Daytona In July

Michael J Smith — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:42:40 +0000

Turner Motorsports will team up with Wal-Mart to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the retail giant. Turner will field a No. 50 Chevy that will feature Wal-Mart as the sponsor with Bill Elliott behind the whell in the 2012 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

The current plan is for this to be a one-off deal.

Elliott To Drive For Phoenix Racing In Cup Series In 2011

Michael J Smith — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:17:21 +0000

Despite an earlier denial by Phoenix Racing owner James Finch, the team has announced that Bill Elliott will drive the team’s No. 09 Sprint Cup entry for a limited number of races beginning with the 2011 Daytona 500. At this point, the plan is to have Elliott behind the wheel for 18 Cup races depending on sponsorship.

Finch said:

It’s great to have NASCAR’s most popular driver ever in our car. We’ve been friends with him a long time and we’re happy to have him in the car.

The team will use equipment and engines from Hendrick Motorsports and Nick Harris will be atop the pitbox for Elliott.

Phoenix also plans to scale back its Nationwide Series efforts, instead focusing on it’s Cup team. The team plans to focus its N’Wide efforts on the restrictor plate races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

In December, Trevor Bayne was reported to be the driver for the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Sprint Cup Ford for the start of the Sprint Cup Series season. At that time, it was reported that Elliott would move to the No. 09 team.

That report was later denied by Finch and WBR.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Bayne would indeed make some starts for WBR in 2011. It is unclear whether or not Elliott will drive select races for WBR in addition to his commitment to Phoenix.

Bayne To Run Cup Races For Wood Brothers Racing In 2011?

Michael J Smith — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:37:53 +0000

Trevor Bayne could run some Sprint Cup races for Wood Brothers Racing in 2011, according to the Motor Racing Network. The team is looking to up its Sprint Cup efforts in 2011 to 17 races.

Bayne had been rumored to be slated to drive for WBR in Cup in 2011, with the team’s 2010 driver, Bill Elloitt, moving over to Phoenix Racing. But, that report was later denied by both PR owner James Finch and WBR.

Bayne To Drive For Wood Brothers; Elliott To Phoenix

Michael J Smith — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:31:01 +0000

Trevor Bayne will work with Wood Brothers Racing at the start of the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season. Bayne made one start for the team last season, finishing 17th at the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Bill Elliott, who competed for the team last season, will move over to Phoenix Racing’s No. 09 Chevy for the first five races of 2011, in hopes of helping the team get into the top 35 in owner’s points.

Update: Phoenix Racing owner James Finch said that he had no plans to put Bill Elliott in his No. 09 Sprint Cup entry next season, according to Jayski. He said that the first he heard anything about it was when he read about it last week.

Meanwhile, Wood Brothers Racing indicated that Elliott would be driving its No. 21 Ford next season in a limited schedule.

Bayne To Drive For Wood Brothers At Texas

Michael J Smith — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:03:54 +0000

Trevor Bayne will make his Sprint Cup debut driving the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in the Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Bayne was originally slated to drive a fifth car for Roush Fenway Racing, the team he recently signed with, at Texas with Donnie Wingo serving as his crew chief. When WBR was looking for a crew chief, they contact RFR owner Jack Roush who agreed to lend them Wingo’s services. As a logical result, Bayne was put in the car.

WBR’s regular driver, the legendary Bill Elliott, will be at the track to help mentor Bayne. Elliott will return to the car in the season-finale at Homstead-Miami Speedway.

Bayne began the season driving for Diamond-Waltrip Racing in the Nationwide Series. Despite being in the top 10 in points, Bayne was released from DWR due to a lack of sponsorship. He was replaced by Martin Truex Jr and his brother, two-time K&N Pro Series East Series champion Ryan Truex. Bayne signed with RFR shortly thereafter.

Gilliland To Drive For JGR, WBR

Michael J Smith — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:06:36 +0000

David Gilliland will drive four races for Joe Gibbs Racing in a fourth JGR Toyota at the end of this season. He will also drive the Wood Brothers No. 21 at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, subbing for an injured Bill Elliott. Gilliland had been replaced by Bobby Labonte for seven races in TRG Motorsports’ No. 71. Labonte was replaced by Erik Darnell in the Yates Racing’s No. 96 Ford.

Martin Stretches Fuel, Wins Lifelock 400

Michael J Smith — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:26:59 +0000

Mark Martin won a thrilling finish in Michigan, stretching his tank of fuel farther than Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle, and passing both of them on the last lap, when they ran out of fuel, to take the checkered flag of the Lifelock 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Johnson pushed Biffle in the closing laps, forcing Biffle to run faster than he wanted to. Biffle was in conservation mode before Johnson caught him. As the two raced side-by-side, they burned off too much precious fuel.

Johnson passed Biffle and pulled away. On the white flag lap, Johnson ran out of gas and began coasting. Biffle powered past him. About a half a straight-away later, Biffle was out of fuel and Martin passed him on the backstretch. Martin took the checkered flag easily. Johnson finished 22nd Biffle finished fifth.

Top 5: Martin, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, and Greg Biffle.

Juan Montoya, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Brian Vickers, and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top 10.

Notables: Jamie McMurray (11th), Elliott Sadler (12th), Kyle Busch (13th), Dale Earnhardt Jr (14th), Bill Elliott (16th), Kevin Harvick (18th), David Reutimann (19th), Matt Kenseth (20th), Kasey Kahne (21st), Jimmie Johnson (22nd), Ryan Newman (23rd), Jeff Burton (26th), and Marcos Ambrose (31st).

Give a call to Elliot Sadler (12th), Bill Elliott (16th), and Robby Gordon (17th) who all had good runs and finished in the top 20.

Truex Jr. Takes Daytona 500 Pole

Michael J Smith — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:56:17 +0000

Martin Truex Jr. drove his Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Bass Pro Shops No. 1 Chevrolet to the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 with a lap of 188.001 mph.

Mark Martin, driving the No. 5 Kelloggs Chevy of Hendrick Motorsports, will start outside row one in second position with a speed of 187.817 mph.

While the rest of the positions will be set by the results of the Gatorade Duels on Thursday, the top three of the ”go or go home” cars are locked in to the Daytona 500. Those drivers are Bill Elliott, Tony Stewart, and Travis Kvapil.

Terry Labonte is also locked in the show because of his past champion’s provisional. He can race his way in, but if he fails to do that, he will claim the 43rd starting spot.