By Rick Houston
Bill Elliott had experienced just about everything a race-car driver could experience, and more crashes than he could ever have cared about remembering.
But this was different. This happened before his mind could even register it.
It was supposed to be a routine demonstration flight in a Georgia Air National Guard F-16, a bucket-list moment even for one of NASCAR’s most successful and popular drivers.
That was what was SUPPOSED to happen, but most definitely not the way it actually turned out. Midway through the hop, the plane carrying Elliott collided with another jet during a combat simulation. The pilot of the other plane was forced to eject, while Elliott’s was heavily damaged.
At one point, Elliott’s pilot passed him a note saying that he was going to TRY to land the plane safely back at the base. If not, however, he was told to prepare to eject.
Imagine Elliott’s relief as the plane finally settled back into the runway. The incident brought Elliott this close to oblivion … and it was even closer than he knew at that point. It later discovered that his ejection seat had not been charged.
This is Elliott’s account of that incredible day.
For more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport.
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