Bill Elliot to drive Wood Bros. #21

**Hoss Ghoul** · 17th May 2007, 22:07

http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/20..._daily542.html

So much for those who said Bill was above this kind of thing (using his past champion provisional to get a non-top 35 team into races)...

**dwboogityfan** · 17th May 2007, 22:13

As a longtime Bill Elliott fan I am delighted to see him back in the Cup Series, back in a Ford and racing for a historic team like the Wood Brothers.
I think this is a fantastic move by the Woods but can't believe Mikey didn't put Bill in the #55. While I disagree with the top 35 rule I have no problem with NASCAR rewarding a past champion (at least for a limited number of races). I'd prefer to see the #21 in the races than any of the Toyota teams and hopefully when Elliott gets out of the car the team will be back among the top 35.

**call_me_andrew** · 18th May 2007, 03:53

Bill turned Mikey down. I think this is a good move. I think that the Wood Brothers have a good operation, it's just that Ken Schrader is so far over the hill that I wouldn't trust him to drive an ice cream truck. The same goes for Dale Jarrett. I think Bill can be compeditive with a full time team, I thought he could have contended for a championship a coupple of years ago (if he didn't go into semi-retirement).

**Hoss Ghoul** · 18th May 2007, 06:19

I agree with both of you. Elliott may be just what this team needs from a performance standpoint (points issue aside). I doubt that he is as good as he was when he was with Evernham a few years ago, but he still has something left in him, I'm sure.

Nevertheless, as we've seen with plenty of drivers, including guys like Rudd, Jarrett, (and Elliot in the period before he joined Evernham), etc...you can't do squat with a bad car.

Schrader has on ocasion made himself look decent in recent years with good runs on short tracks where the driver can make more of a difference, with a top 15-20 and maybe a top 10. You can't really expect much more from Elliott in this car.

**RaceFanStan** · 18th May 2007, 14:27

Bill Elliott is a good driver but so is Ken Schrader !
People praise the driver for winning or running up front & blame the driver if he runs in the back ...
too many times it is only 10 to 25% driver which makes it 75 to 90% CAR & team !
If the Wood Brothers don't get the #21 up to speed, a past champion can't make it run up front !
Sure the #21 will make the races with a past champion at the wheel but it will still be in the back !

**Lee Roy** · 18th May 2007, 15:26

Originally Posted by Hoss Ghoul

http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/20..._daily542.html

So much for those who said Bill was above this kind of thing (using his past champion provisional to get a non-top 35 team into races)...

Well, I was one of those so I'll have to eat my crow.

But I am glad to have Bill back in a car. Hope he doesn't have to use a past champions provisional. That will be sad.

Hey, maybe he can move them back into the top 35.

**tstran17_88** · 18th May 2007, 18:46

Maybe 'ol Russell will make a comeback for MWR?

**Jonesi** · 18th May 2007, 20:08

Originally Posted by tstran17_88

Maybe 'ol Russell will make a comeback for MWR?

Rusty's really retired. Bill, Terry, Mark all left it kind of open, that maybe they would like to to a little more racing. Rusty has flatly stated he's retired.

**call_me_andrew** · 19th May 2007, 02:09

I think Terry is done for good now.

**tstran17_88** · 20th May 2007, 01:38

Never say never if the $$$ is right, but yeah, Russell & Terry are done as far the fans are concerned.
( I bought into the DW farewell tour too in 2000).