Elliott Joining MB2 For Daytona 500
By TONY FABRIZIO afabrizio@tampatrib.com
Bill Elliott will race in the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2003.
Known for driving Fords and Dodges throughout his 30-year career, Elliott will drive MB2 Motorsports' No. 36 Chevy in the Feb. 19 race. He'll be a teammate of Lakeland's Joe Nemechek and the team's newest driver, Sterling Marlin.
Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup champion, also will drive the No. 36 car in the Feb. 11 Budweiser Shootout, an all-star race for 2005 pole winners. Elliott holds an automatic berth because he won the Shootout in 1987.
Frank Stoddard, who has worked with Jeff and Ward Burton, among others, will serve as Elliott's crew chief for both races and for a Daytona test session next week.
"MB2 has a top-notch superspeedway program, and I am looking forward to being part of it," Elliott said. "Both Sterling and Joe are good on the big tracks, and having them as teammates gives us added potential."
The No. 36 car is MB2's part-time team. Road-racing specialist Boris Said drove the car in nine races last year, scoring a best finish of third at Watkins Glen.
With Elliott and Marlin, MB2 will have a pair of two-time Daytona 500 winners. Elliott won from the pole in 1985 and '87 driving a Ford for Harry Melling, and Marlin won in 1994 and '95 driving a Chevy for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.
In addition to experience, MB2 should have strong cars. The team leases engines from Hendrick Motorsports, which, in the last two years, has surpassed Dale Earnhardt Inc., as the premier team on the two restrictor-plate tracks.
Elliott's 25-year record in the Daytona 500 includes nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes and four poles. He shares the record for most 500 poles with Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough.
"Daytona is a special place, and the 500 is a special race," Elliott said. "I haven't reached the point where I am content to watch this race on television. I would rather be part of the action - it's the big show."
Bill Elliott will race in the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2003.
Known for driving Fords and Dodges throughout his 30-year career, Elliott will drive MB2 Motorsports' No. 36 Chevy in the Feb. 19 race. He'll be a teammate of Lakeland's Joe Nemechek and the team's newest driver, Sterling Marlin.
Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup champion, also will drive the No. 36 car in the Feb. 11 Budweiser Shootout, an all-star race for 2005 pole winners. Elliott holds an automatic berth because he won the Shootout in 1987.
Frank Stoddard, who has worked with Jeff and Ward Burton, among others, will serve as Elliott's crew chief for both races and for a Daytona test session next week.
"MB2 has a top-notch superspeedway program, and I am looking forward to being part of it," Elliott said. "Both Sterling and Joe are good on the big tracks, and having them as teammates gives us added potential."
The No. 36 car is MB2's part-time team. Road-racing specialist Boris Said drove the car in nine races last year, scoring a best finish of third at Watkins Glen.
With Elliott and Marlin, MB2 will have a pair of two-time Daytona 500 winners. Elliott won from the pole in 1985 and '87 driving a Ford for Harry Melling, and Marlin won in 1994 and '95 driving a Chevy for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.
In addition to experience, MB2 should have strong cars. The team leases engines from Hendrick Motorsports, which, in the last two years, has surpassed Dale Earnhardt Inc., as the premier team on the two restrictor-plate tracks.
Elliott's 25-year record in the Daytona 500 includes nine top-five and 14 top-10 finishes and four poles. He shares the record for most 500 poles with Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough.
"Daytona is a special place, and the 500 is a special race," Elliott said. "I haven't reached the point where I am content to watch this race on television. I would rather be part of the action - it's the big show."
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