13 [plus Sprint Showdown] Race Part-time Schedule with Bill Elliott:
Feb. 15, Daytona 500, sponsor Motorcraft
March 8. Atlanta, Motorcraft
April 5, Texas, Motorcraft
May 16, Sprint Showdown, Motorcraft
May 24, Charlotte, Motorcraft
June 14, Michigan, Motorcraft
July 11, Chicago, Motorcraft
July 26, Indy, Motorcraft
Aug 16, Michigan, Quick Lane Tire
Sept. 6, Atlanta, Motorcraft, w/Gilliland
Oct. 4, Kansas, Motorcraft
Oct 17, Charlotte, Warriors in Pink
Nov. 8, Texas, Motorcraft
Nov. 22, Homestead, Motorcraft
Contract Status: Driver: 2009; Sponsor: 2009
#21 Team Past News and Rumors
(NOTE: some older links may not work)
Vist Wood Brothers Museum: If race fans have some extra time this weekend while at Martinsville Speedway, consider visiting the Wood Brothers’ Museum at 21 Performance Drive, Stuart Virginia, 24171 - located just 30 miles west of Martinsville off of route 58. Admission is free. The #21, 1971 Wood Brothers’ Purolator Mercury Cyclone will be on display, along with a host of other Wood Brothers’ memories, including a 2009 race car. The museum will be open from 9:00am/et to 5:00pm/et Friday, October 23, 2009 and Saturday, October 24, 2009. Any questions, directions, please log on to www.woodbrothersracing.com – or call at (276) 694 – 2121.(10-22-2009)
100th start at LMS for the Wood Brothers: Fall racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway has come a long way since the inaugural fall race on October 16, 1960. The Wood Brothers won the first fall Charlotte race with Speedy Thompson behind the wheel of the #21 Ford. This will be the Wood Brothers 100th start on the 1.5 mile quad-oval having compiled a record of 6 wins, 24 top fives, 38 top tens and 20 poles. Driver Bill Elliott has competed in 59 races at the famed speedway earning 2 wins, 11 top fives, 22 top tens and 4 poles. The #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion will be sporting a special “Warriors in Pink” paint scheme in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Bill Elliott will be wearing a “Warriors in Pink” fire suit and helmet that will be available through an online auction - all proceeds benefiting “Susan G. Komen for the Cure.”(Wood Brothers Racing), see an image of the scheme on my #21 Team Schemes page.(10-15-2009)
Happy Birthday, Ford Racing: Ford Racing is 108 years old today. On this date – Oct. 10, 1901 – Henry Ford, competing in a race as a driver for the only time, won a highly publicized and well-attended 10-mile event in Grosse Pointe, Mich. Several financial investors took note of the victory and later helped Ford start what would become Ford Motor Company in June 1903.(Ford PR)(10-10-2009)
Warriors in Pink on the #21 at Lowes: Ford Motor Company, with the help of Wood Brothers Racing, is giving new meaning to "racing for the cure." The Wood Brothers Racing #21 Ford driven by Bill Elliott will feature a special Ford Motor Company Warriors in Pink paint scheme in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The new paint scheme will debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America on October 17. Elliott will also be wearing a specially-designed Ford Warriors in Pink fire suit and helmet during the race that will be auctioned off online after the Race. One hundred percent of auction proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.(Ford PR), see an image of the scheme on my #21 Team Schemes page.(10-10-2009)
Wood Brothers plan similar 2010 schedule: They still have four races this year—Kansas City on Oct. 4, Charlotte on Oct. 17, Texas on Nov. 8 and Homestead on Nov. 22—but the Wood brothers already are considering their 2010 plans. “We’d love to maintain our relationship with Bill Elliott and our sponsors, and run about the same number of races we’ve run this year,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We’d consider it, but it would take a ton of sponsorship money before we tried to run the full schedule again. We’re really content with the way things have gone this year.” Because of sponsorship issues, the long-time Ford loyalists trimmed their schedule from 36 to 13 races this year. Elliott ran the first eight and David Gilliland was in the #21 Fusion this weekend. Elliott took himself from the car after breaking three ribs in a Wednesday afternoon dirt-bike accident.(Ford Racing)(9-7-2009)
Gilliland in the #21 at Atlanta UPDATE 2: Motorcraft's Facebook page is reporting: Wood Brothers just announced David Gilliland to drive the #21 car this weekend in Atlanta. A press release with more details is coming soon.
UPDATE: David Gilliland will be taking over the driving duties of the #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion this weekend for the Pep Boys Auto 500, filling in for Bill Elliott. Elliott is experiencing some back problems and uncertain how he will feel driving the car. Co-owner Eddie Wood stated, “Given the modified practice schedule where the practices and qualifying are all being done on Saturday, we didn’t feel there was enough time to make changes to the seat if Bill wasn’t comfortable and we needed to get another driver. We called David to see if he was available. Thankfully he was and agreed to help.” Gilliland has 6 starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway with his best finish (15th) coming in 2006.(Wood Brothers Racing)
UPDATE 2: Bill Elliott has cracked three ribs riding his dirt bike. “It was just a freak deal,” Elliott said. He said although he probably could have raced in pain, he decided to step out of the Wood Brothers Ford for this weekend’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway because he didn’t want to jeopardize the team’s chances of running well in the Pep Boys Auto 500. “I just decided that those boys had worked so hard on the car it wouldn’t be fair for me to have a problem and mess them up,” Elliott said. David Gilliland, who lost his regular ride to Bobby Labonte, will drive in Elliott’s place this weekend. “He runs good at Atlanta, so they should be OK,” Elliott said. “And I’ll be back in the car for Kansas.”(Racin' Today)(9-4-2009)
Chase Elliott wins PASS race: Going into turn three prior to the final lap of the Over the Mountain 150 at Hickory Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott [son of Bill Elliott] worked his way to the back bumper of the race leader Jeff Choquette and made slight contact. As the two drivers came to the white flag, they were side by side. Jeff Choquette tried to work the high side through three and four, but Elliott had the preferred line and won the event. At 13 years old, Elliott becomes the youngest winner in PASS South, and PASS Super Late Model overall, history. Dave Blaney's son, Ryan, finished sixth in the race.(Speed51.com)(8-30-2009)
Bill Elliott to have different colors on #21 at MIS; Image: The Wood Brothers Racing #21 Ford Fusion driven by Bill Elliott will switch from its normal red Motorcraft paint scheme and feature the blue, white and orange colors of Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center at Michigan International Speedway. "We are excited to have Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center sponsor the #21 Ford Fusion, especially since Michigan International Speedway is the home track of both Quick Lane and Ford," said Tom Suttles, Quick Lane Business Manager. "This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our partnership with Motorcraft. Quick Lane and Motorcraft form the perfect combination of fast, convenient service and the highest quality parts." In addition to being the primary sponsor of Bill Elliotts Fusion this weekend, fans can see the #21 Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Fusion at 12 Metro Detroit locations this week.
Bill Elliott will be signing autographs at the Quick Lane at Varsity Lincoln Mercury in Novi and the Quick Lane at Hines Park Ford in New Hudson on Thursday, August 13. Ford Customer Service Division brands of Motorcraft and Quick Lane are primary sponsors on the Wood Brothers #21 Ford for 12 races this season, which began in February at the Daytona 500 and will culminate with the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Quick Lane provides automotive quick services for all makes and models. For more information about Quick Lane, visit www.quicklane.com.(Wood Brothers Racing/Ford Racing)(8-12-2009)
IMAGE: see am image of the car on the #21 Paint Schemes page.(8-14-2009)
Congrats to David Hirsch, gas man for #21-Bill Elliott in the Sprint Cup Series, and wife Kimberly on the August 5th birth of daughter Madison Rose Hirsch.(8-7-2009)
- Wood Brothers add a race: While the NASCAR Sprint Cup series began the second half of its 36-race season Saturday night, the race marked the sixth event of the season for the Wood Brothers and the #21 Ford Bill that Elliott drives. The team scaled back to a partial schedule this season because it was unable to find enough sponsorship to run the entire year. This marks the first time since 1984 the team hasn't attempted to run a full Cup schedule. Eddie Wood, co-owner of the team, said that the team has added one race -- the Charlotte fall race -- giving it 13 for the year [plus the team ran the Sprint Showdown]. The team's next race is Indianapolis in two weeks, and then the team will skip two races before returning to Michigan in mid-August. "It's really working out for us,'' Wood said. "Just like everybody else in here, we send out [sponsorship] proposals everyday. Literally. If something turns up to where we get another chunk of money, we'll add races accordingly. But we won't run races if we don't have the money to support it and do it correctly.''(Roanoke Times)(7-14-2009)
- Race #800 for Elliott: #21-Bill Elliott, driving the Motorcraft Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, will make his 800th career start Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Elliott is currenty 7th in the all-time Sprint Cup start list behind Richard Petty (1184 starts), Ricky Rudd (906), Dave Marcis (883), Terry Labonte (883) and Kyle Petty (829). The best of the top 10 are all active drivers: Sterling Marlin (744), Michael Waltrip (736) and Mark Martin (733). Only four of the top-10 have won a championship.(5-21-2009)
- Bill Elliott to attempt to topple NASCAR speed record UPDATE: The current NASCAR top speed record sits at 212.089 and was set by Bill Elliot at Talladega Superspeedway in a 1987 Ford Thunderbird. Brent Hajek apparently figures it's about time that 22-year-old record is topped. Next Wednesday, May 13th, Hajek will once again put Bill Elliot behind the wheel of a Ford at the famed Talladega oval in Alabama, only this time, the vehicle in question will be a Mustang FR500C modified to run on E85. This particular Mustang Cobra Jet has already managed to clock a 252 mile per hour top speed at the Salt Flats in Bonneville. On Wednesday, May 13, Hajek Motorsports will embark on its next challenge, with technical support from Ford Racing, when they attempt to break the 22-year-old NASCAR speed record held by Bill Elliott. Elliott himself will pilot Hajek's E-85 Mustang FR500C, which has been reconfigured to NASCAR specs, at Talladega in an attempt to break his 212.089 mph qualifying lap from 1987 at the same track. FIA officials will be on site to verify the attempt and to validate the record. The Hajek Motorsports E-85 Mustang is currently at Bill Elliott's race shop in Dawsonville, Georgia, going through final preparations. Early next week, the team will scrub tires and do initial testing, in anticipation of breaking the record on Wednesday afternoon.(
autobloggreen.com)(5-9-2009)
UPDATE: The last thing Bill Elliott expected to be riding in on Wednesday at Talladega Superspeedway was an ambulance.
Elliott was at the track -- where he set the NASCAR qualifying record in 1987 of 212 mph -- in an attempt to break that mark. He was driving a Ford FR500C Mustang, a production racing model modified by Brent Hajek of Hajek Motorsports. The same car reached 252 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats last year. On hand for the occasion were Len and Eddie Wood of the Wood Brothers racing team and legendary NASCAR team owner Bud Moore. But it rained most of the day and by the time the sun came out and the track dried enough there was just time left for a couple shakedown runs to check the car out before taking a shot at the speed mark on Thursday. Elliott was on the second lap of the second run when the right front tire blew, sending him hard into the wall on the backstretch. "That's not what I was looking for," Elliott said of the ride back to the garage in an ambulance. "Only hurt my feelings." Hajek was disappointed his shot at the speed mark was cut short but said he might give it another shot on another day. "We'll have to determine what happened and see if we can fix it," he said.(see images at Alabama Live)(5-14-2009)
- Another Elliott in the winners circle: Chase Elliott, the 13-year-old son of NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, collected his first career Late Model victory by winning Saturday night's Georgia Asphalt Series 100 at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga. Elliott, who started second, passed teammate Casey Roderick for the lead on the .375-mile paved oval with three laps remaining. Bill Elliott was in attendance for the event.(5-10-2009)
- Wood Brothers to Run 2009 Sprint Showdown: The Wood Brothers #21 Motorcraft sponsored Ford Fusion will be running in the May 16, 2009 Sprint Showdown race and trying to make the All-Star race that immediately follows The Sprint Showdown. Co-owner Len Wood stated, “We made the decision to run the race because it gives us track time for the Coca-Cola 600 (to be run the following weekend) and gives our sponsors (Ford and Motorcraft) another marketing opportunity – not to mention it’s a fun event and five minutes from our shop.” Bill Elliott and the Wood Brothers #21 Ford Fusion can make the All-Star race by finishing first or second in The Sprint Showdown race or by being voted in by the fans.(Wood Brothers Racing site)(4-24-2009)
- In Martinsville? Check out Wood Bros Museum: If you have some extra time this weekend, consider visiting the Wood Brothers Museum at 21 Performance Drive, Stuart Virginia, 24171 - located just 30 miles west of Martinsville off of route 58. Admission is free. The #21, 1971 Wood Brothers Purolator Mercury Cyclone will be on display, along with a host of other Wood Brothers memories. The museum will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday, March 27, 2009 and Saturday, March 28, 2009. More info at www.woodbrothersracing.com.(WBR PR)(3-27-2009)
- Chase Elliott to Make First Late Model Start: Chase Elliott. Bill Elliott's son, will mark a major career milestone this weekend when he climbs behind the wheel of the #9 Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine for his first Late Model start at South Georgia Motorsports Park (Cecil, Ga.) in the ASA Late Model South Series on Saturday, March 28. Thirteen-year-old Elliott tested the Aaron’s Lucky Dog Dream Machine last weekend at Lanier National Speedway (Braselton, Ga.) for his first laps in an asphalt Late Model.(Bill Elliott Racing PR)(3-25-2009)
- Elliott's son hitches a ride: Chase Elliott might already be a racer in his own right, but he had never been around Atlanta Motor Speedway’s high banks in a full-size race car … until Saturday. After filming a TV segment to promote Atlanta’s Labor Day night racing event, Bill Elliott had the opportunity to take son Chase, 13, on a ride around the 1.54-mile quad-oval. The younger Elliott tried to play it cool as he exited the car, but his beaming grin – and his mother – belied his casual manner. “He was trying to play it cool, but he was so excited,” Cindy Elliott said. And being an Elliott, it should come as no surprise that Elliott’s first remarks about the ride centered on the driving line. “You get back on the gas so fast,” Chase Elliott said. “It’s so big, and the corners are so sweeping.”(AMS Pit Notes)(3-8-2009)
- Wood Brothers not loooking for investors: In this year of economic hardship and disappearing sponsors, #21-Wood Brothers is hunkering down. The team, which has won just one race in the past 15 seasons, will run just a third of the 2009 season. "Our plan is, unless something substantial comes, here's our 12 and that's what we're going to do," team co-owner Len Wood said. The team would rather run just 12 races with Bill Elliott than try to piece together a season by scrounging sponsorships on a race-by-race basis, he said.
"If someone comes in and says `I'll give you $100,000 to run this race,' that's not going to make money," Wood said. The team has also rejected the idea of looking for outside investors with deep pockets. That just brings interference, Wood said. "When it comes to making a decision - do we need to buy this - we don't have to go through a board of directors or anything like that," he said. "It's us. We don't have to answer to anybody." Instead, the Ford team is tightening its belt and finding ways to do more with less. "We have smaller groups than we had before," Wood said. "I need a guy who can jack the car and be a mechanic. I need a guy who can be a fabricator and can also change tires. Instead of two people to do one job I need one guy to do two." The team ran an entry in NASCAR's truck series last year but that's on the shelf in 2009. This season will only feature Elliott in the #21 with backing by Motorcraft. The advantage of using a veteran such as Elliott is being able to fall back on the provisional entry he is entitled to as a past NASCAR champion in order to qualify for a race. Elliott had to use only one champion's provisional last year. This year using a provisional might be more difficult because other past champions will try to qualify for races and the one available provisional per race goes to the most recent champion who needs it. "People try to say that's why we got him," Wood said of Elliott and his provisional. "It probably started that way, but Bill Elliott is different. He can step up and get that car in if he needs to. We didn't have very good cars the first of last year but (changes made) turned our program around. We're just trying to get it back on track and get our performance back." But soon that first race will come when Wood Brothers doesn't make the trip. And, Wood said, "I'll be sitting there watching just like a fan at home, but I won't be liking it."(Alabama Live)(2-10-2009)
- Motorcraft to sponsor Wood Bros for 9 races: For the ninth consecutive year, Ford Customer Service Division’s Motorcraft brand will team with legendary Wood Brothers Racing to compete in the highest form of stock car racing. Motorcraft, a Ford Motor Company brand of automotive parts ranging from filters and spark plugs to engines and transmissions, will be the primary sponsor on the Wood Brothers #21 Sprint Cup Ford Fusion for nine races (see schedule below), beginning in February at the Daytona 500 and culminating with the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR champion driving a Coors/Motorcraft Thunderbird, is scheduled to be the driver for all of Motorcraft's races. Elliott, Motorcraft and the Wood Brothers first joined forces in 2007. “We are very proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Wood Brothers Racing and Bill Elliott,” said Darryl Hazel, Ford Customer Service Division Vice President. “The Woods are synonymous with Ford, and we are thrilled to be associated with such a tremendous group of people.”
“We are very pleased to have Motorcraft back with us for the 2009 season,” said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Eddie Wood. “Motorcraft first sponsored us in 2001 and we value their involvement in the sport for the past nine years. They have been loyal to us, we have always been loyal to them and Ford. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like family. Without Ford Motor Company, the outlook for this season would probably be different.” The Wood Brothers are acknowledged pioneers in the sport of stock-car racing, and have earned 96 wins in over 50 years of NASCAR competition – second most in Ford Racing history. “Ford’s appreciation for our loyalty throughout the years is what kept us going, and, in turn, we keep on going for them, too,” said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Len Wood. The nine races: Daytona, Atlanta [both], Texas [Apr], Charlotte [May], Michigan [June], Chicago, Indy and Homestead. Motorcraft offers a complete line of original equipment-approved parts that are designed, engineered, and recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood and powertrain repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available locally and are backed nationwide by Ford Motor Company's Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.(PCG Campbell/Motorcraft/Quick Lane PR), see an image of the car on my #21 Team Schemes page.(1-22-2009)
- Elliott's brother named GM of speedway: Peachstate Speedway in Jefferson, Georgia was renamed Gresham Motorsports Park. Racetrack owners Jim Gresham, Dan Elliott of the famous Elliott family of Dawsonville, Georgia, has been named the General Manager of Gresham Motorsports Park. "We plan to do an Extreme Makeover Race Track Edition" Elliott said in a brief interview. He has been in racing almost all of his life, from short tracks to NASCAR, and he plans to use every resource available to make this the best racetrack in the country. "This track once hosted some of the most famous drivers that ever raced and if anyone can do that again I want to be the man to do it and I want this to be the track where new talent is discovered. I am excited and proud to be a part of the new Gresham Motorsports Park and highly praise the Greshams and Gene Roberts for this awesome opportunity." For further information see www.greshammotorsportspark.com.(Gresham Motorsports Park)(1-1-2009)
- Wood Brothers team to cut back to 12 races in 2009: The legendary #21-Wood Brothers organization will run only 12 Sprint Cup races next season. Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing, said tough economic times have forced the organization to enter only the season-opening Daytona 500 and mile-and-a-half tracks with Bill Elliott, the 1988 Cup champion. The mile-and-a-half tracks were picked because Ford's program is strongest there. "We could run up to 20 but we decided to do 12 and do it right," Wood said Saturday. "We're going back to doing it the way we did it years ago." The organization used to pick and choose races in the early years. It ran only 18 races in 1973, with David Pearson, who won 11 of them. Wood said the organization, which lost Air Force as a sponsor to Gillett Evernham Motorsports, had to let 22 employees go to reduce the team to about 40.(ESPN.com)(12-6-2008)
