On Monday, Bill Elliott, returned to Smoky Mountain Speedway in Blount County [GA], to try out his dirt-racing car. Elliott took a break from his #91 red Dodge to give his #9 white Coca-Cola Ford Mustang late-model dirt track race car several rounds at the Smoky Mountain Speedway. A member of Elliott’s team called the speedway’s owner, Denny Garner, and asked if Million Dollar Bill could take a few rounds on the track with dirt track racer Ray Cook, 32, who has become known as the “The Tarheel Tiger.” Garner was more than happy to open the track to Elliott and Cook, who spent several hours making rounds at the dirt track. Elliott has been working with Cook this season. Cook drives the #53 Everham Performance Parts car. Elliott was fairly modest about his reasons for visiting Maryville to use the track, claiming he was simply there to observe. “I have no idea,” he said with a smile when asked why he was in Maryville. “I just got in the truck and came up here.” After his car was revved up by crew members, Elliott climbed inside the #9 car sporting his red Coca-Cola racing suit and zoomed out to the track. He and Cook together made several rounds around the dirt raceway before coming in for a break. Those who apparently use the track regularly made several rounds to pack down some of the loose spots in the track. Both drivers and their crews spent several hours at the track Monday. When Elliott raced at the speedway in 1975, it was still an asphalt track. In the mid-1980s, the track was returned to a dirt track. Garner purchased the track a year ago after it sat empty for three years. The track completed one season last year. To prepare for Cook and Elliott’s use, water was sprayed onto the dirt track overnight Sunday.(Daily Times)(2-26-2004)
