Bill Elliott (Photo Credit: Harold Hinson Photography)
Bill Elliott will make a comeback this July when he drives the no.50 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. Elliott, 56, famously won the first Winston Million in 1985 – a prize of one million dollars up for grabs for anyone who could win three of the four 'grand slam' races on the NASCAR tour – which earned him the nickname 'Million Dollar Bill'. Elliott's feat was not repeated until Jeff Gordon finally prevailed in 1997.
The 1988 Cup champion has not run a full season since 2003, but has kept his hand in with selected appearances, becoming only the seventh member of the '800 club' in 2010. His new deal will be backed by Walmart to commemorate their 50th year in business, and will utilise engines prepared by Hendrick Motorsports.
“Turner Motorsports has a lot of resources,” Elliott said. “I think they can do a really good job from what they've done in the Nationwide Series. I feel comfortable with it. I'm very excited about this program.”
Elliott, the winner of a record 16 Most Popular Driver Awards, believes that the Walmart deal, the first time the supermarket giant has sponsored a NASCAR operation, marks a significant step for the sport.
“This is a big deal to have Wal-Mart on a car and get more involved in the sport,” Elliott added. “It helps to have a company like this take a major step forward in NASCAR.”
