The million dollar man says
success hasn't spoiled him yet
IF THERE WAS ever a man who didn't let a few
Jjucks go to his head, then it has to be Bill Elliott
Back in the late 1970s, Elliott was just another of
ihe many country bumpkins trying to make it in Ihe
ilite world of stock car racing - the NASCAR Winston
Cup circuit
But there was something about this young lad from
Dawsonville, Georgia and his family-owned and oper
ated racing enterprise that caught the eye of Michigan
businessman, Harry Melling,
At the urging of former national champion Benny
Parsons, Melling purchased the fledgling Elliott racing
■ team back in December, 1981, simply hoping he would
recoup his investment.
What Melling got, was a million dollar man who
would eventually become the sport's next superstar
thanks to looking a lot like Opie Taylor on ihc Andy
Grijfith Show.
With his "my gosh" good-natured
auitude and his Georgia drawl, Elliott
was an instant media hit when he took
the racing world by storm during 1985.
-'The aiperspeedway races - those on
; tracks 1.5 miles in length or longer -
:-virtually belonged to the Elliott clan
: that year, as he swept 11 of them
of like driving downtown. The big tracks arc like get
ting on the expressway in the fast lane. The road
courses remind me of driving down the Blue Ridge
Parkway on the way back to Georgia.
”I just like working on and driving race cars.
That's really my favorite thing to do. It also happens to
be how I make a living.”
Yes, Bill, and a rather nice living at that.
THOUGH MOST OF the crowd asked Elliott
questions about the upcoming race or other such boring
topics, I managed to pop a real zingcr to liven up the
conversion.
"With all the talk of minority hiring in baseball
and other sports, what kind of opportunities are avail
able in NASCAR for minorities - particularly blacks *
and women,” I inquired, using my best Tom Brokaw
imitation.
ON THE SIDELINES
With RANDY PETTITT
' including the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 and the
Southern 500 for a cool million dollar bonus from R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Co.
The newspapers, magazines and television stations
g,! . couldn't get enough of the guy who had won a record
11 superspeedway races occasionally got mad by say-
igjj" ing "gosh dam."
■ Despite all the pretty girls who flocked to the
faice of pit road to see this red-haired wonder, all the
countless interviews and all the greenbacks that had
A piled up along the way, Bill Elliott hadn't changed very
[/ much.
iJl TJaw," as he might say. "I’m still just a Georgia
boy who loves to work on race cars."
^ He forgot to mention one important word detail -
i now he's filthy rich.
ELLIOTT STRODE INTO the Ramada Hotel in
J downtown Winston-Salem last week, returning an
occasional smile from members of the hotel staff. He
later signed autographs for them.
A look at his sweater, Levi's and dark loafers
would suggest that Elliott could pass easier for an
^ employee at Reynolds than he could for a millionaire.
After he concluded interviews with the local tele
vision stations, Elliott promptly proclaimed - "Well,
let's eat."
My kind of fellow. By the way, millionaires carve
thdr steak the same way I do - with a knife and fork. It
was a cheap cut, though. No fillet mignon for this guy.
Tm just like anybody else," Elliott insisted to the
group of media on hand for pre-race festivities at North
Wilkesboro Speedway's First Union Bank 400.
The media has hounded Elliott during the last sev
eral years for failing to win on the short tracks. He
I silenced their cries two weeks ago with his first short
'i win at the Bristol 500.
I 'i "What a lot of peq)Ie don't realize is that I started
\i my career on the short tracks like everyone else did,"
I he replied.
I "I was a regular at Dixie Speedway and drove on a
few others, too. It's not like I've never won on a short
' track before.
,i Though the statistics might suggest otherwise,
y Elliott says he has no qualms about rubbing fenders
5 somewhere like Bowman Gray Stadium.
I "Ikind of like the short tracks," he said. "It really
, doesn’t make any difference where I'm running.
"I like running them all. The short tracks are sort
"Well, I don't know," Elliot replied, pausing to
make sure he would not be the next A1 Campanis or
something of the like.
"It (the sport) is open to anyone," he said. "There
are a few women involved right now, but quite honest
ly, it’s hard for anyone to break into the sport these
days.
"It’s hard to get the experience you need to land a
top ride on the circuit. Like a lot of other things, you
have to start at the bottom and work your way up.
"But I think the opportunities are there for anyone
if they play their cards right.”
Though the subject was quickly changed, Elliott
was at least gracious to tackle the subject of minorities
which has been all but avoided on the tour for years.
Patty Moise and Karen Shultz are currently the
only women who compete regularly in NASCAR's
scheme of things. But since the demise of Danville's
Wfendell Scott, black men and women have been left
out of the million dollar sport completely.
And with all the million dollar sponsors, Elliott
says it would be hard for a new team to survive.
"Just about all of the little guys are gone," he noted.
"There is so much money being spent, the inde
pendents have almost been driven out entirely. It's very
hard to break into this business these days."
BUT IF ANYONE knows about starling from
scratch, then it would be Elliott.
"That's what makes our accomplishments so sig
nificant," said the Georgia native who is frequently
known as "Wild Bil^froi^pawsonville;"
"There’s no way I would've ever thought we could'’-
do the things we have so quickly," he said;
'We started with one race car and a 4000 fool
shop. Now we have a different car for every race
sometimes. It's hard to imagine how far we've came."
Now, Elliott grudgingly admits there is a price to
pay for success. Like the hectic schedule of public
appearances and banquets he frequently encounters.
"I'd rather be back at the shop under the hood of a
race car," he concedes.
"But with all Ihe money, it’s hard to say no."
The success of the Elliott family and of the nearby
Richard Childress - Dale Earnhardt team has proved that
a small racing team can still make it to the big time.
So, yes, the dreamers who seek to race can still
hope someday their lucky break will come.
It's just the mountain has gotten a little steeper
and harder to climb.
Lindsay and Ladson to square off for title
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lidnl^ regain a utlaaccording to Lawrence,
'V' SpairiSd with the likes of former iWBC iLightHeavyweightGhampioa Dwight Brackston and
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li
Thursday, April 21, 1988 Wjnslon-Sakm CbivBkk Page B3
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