Dodge Charger Returns to NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing
After almost 30 years, the legendary Dodge Charger race car will roar again in 2005 as Dodge Motorsports revealed its modern-era version of the Charger for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series here today.
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Evernham Motorsports Strengthens Teams for 2005 Season
Evernham Motorsports announced today that it has signed Richard “Slugger” Labbe and Chris Andrews to full time positions within the organization for the 2005 season. Andrews joins Evernham Motorsports as Team Director of the No. 91 Evernham Motorsports Dodge team.
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Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Takes the Green Flag with Elliott, Evernham Motorsports
In their continued quest for high performance, aftermarket auto parts giant Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper has inked its first NASCAR deal as associate sponsor of Evernham Motorsports and includes primary status on the No. 91 Dodge in the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and on the No. 79 Dodge in the NASCAR Busch Series. Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper is the first aftermarket auto parts distribution network to partner with Evernham Motorsports.
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Elliott Returns to Home Track in McDonald’s-Sponsored Car
The last time Bill Elliott was at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) for a NASCAR Nextel Cup race, he was perched in the media complex serving as a radio commentator. That was back in March when the Dawsonville, Ga. native snapped a driving streak of 49 consecutive Cup races at the track he calls home.
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Evernham Motorsports Measures Up with the Stanley Works
As it prepares for the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season, Evernham Motorsports has a powerful new tool in its toolbox – a new sponsorship from The Stanley Works, one of the world’s best known brands of tools, hardware, security and home improvement products. In addition, Stanley will be the primary sponsor on the No. 91 Dodge of Bill Elliott for four NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races next year.
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Dodge Charger Returns to NASCAR Racing
The Dodge Charger returns to Dodge showrooms and NASCAR race tracks around the country in 2005.
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Elliott Saturday California Quotes

Photo Credit: Sherryl Creekmore/NASCAR

“I think after practice I didn’t think much of it. We had a little problem with the car, and they sifted through it and got it squared away before qualifying. Before I got in the car Sammy (team director Johns) told me I was on my own. I new I had to suck it up and go after it. I was just worried about where we were going to end up as far as the overall field is concerned because I didn’t have points to fall back on. From my standpoint, that’s a critical point of where I am in this sport, plus, as Boris said starting out way back in points once everything gets through inspection, you’ve lost 20-30 minutes of your practice. That’s very critical. I know kinda what I wanted. It’s just sometimes I don’t find what I’m looking for sometimes until it’s too late. Today we found it and ended up with a good run. I’m proud for McDonald’s and being able to be back associated with those guys. They were very good to me for a number of years and being able to bring them back in the sport so to speak and having a decent run here today and hopefully we can have a decent run Sunday afternoon. That’s going to be critical from this point on.

HOW’S IT FEEL NOT BEING AT DARLINGTON ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND? “I really hadn’t even thought about it. It’s like this is where we’re supposed to be this weekend. I haven’t even watched many of the races here the last few weeks. I just go do my own thing. I’ve been watching my son race his go-karts, and I’ve been doing other things. I do a little bit of dirt racing, and I’ve done some of these race of champions deals with some other Cup guys. I go off and do those deals and enjoy that. I’m so far removed from the day to day stuff that it makes it easier for me. They say you’ve got to be in California this weekend, and I say, ‘well, OK.’ I was there when the Southern 500 was run on Monday and we didn’t do anything on Sunday. I think for myself and other guys that have been around for awhile, for the tradition that Darlington has brought to this sport, it’s kinda sad that it’s gone away. It’s opened up a new era as far as Darlington is concerned, but still, I’m not running this deal. It’s way over my head. I enjoy being part of it and being part time, having a good time.”

WHAT DO YOU HAVE LINED UP FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR? “I’ll run McDonald’s again in Atlanta. We may look at doing something at Homestead, but nothing is concrete on that side. I’ll run Memphis with the Busch Elvis car. I’m looking forward to that promotion, but right now that’s all I’ve got going on. I’ve been starting to test pretty extensively the newer stuff. I’ve been working on that a good bit with some of the guys. Hopefully we can get that a little bit ahead getting ready for next year. I’ve been really enjoying the weekends. I’ll flip on TV a minute and then flip it off and go do my own thing.”

WAS IT HARDER TO QUALIFY KNOWING YOU HAD TO MAKE IT ON TIME? “You never know where all this is going to end up. I do have a champion’s deal, but I don’t know where that ends up and I’d rather not use it if I don’t have to. If some of the other guys that are more recent champions come in and beat you out of it, that’s another part of it. I don’t want to find out where all that lays. I want to come in and make it on our own merit. Having Ray’s stuff here is very important to me. Just like when the relationship ended with McDonald’s back in 1999 and 2000, going off on my own and finding success with Ray and being able to be a part of the Dodge program and now being able to come back so to speak with McDonald’s is all a critical part of where all this has gone. If I can be a part of bringing them back I know as long term that isn’t going to be where I’m going to be, but still I can be instrumental in leading them in a good direction and do some good stuff for ‘em.”

WILL THIS RACE BE LIKE THE COCA-COLA 600, STARTING IN THE DAY AND ENDING AT NIGHT? “I’m sure it’ll be quite a bit different and how to set up for it, I have no idea. We’ll have to go out and hopefully the track will be more like it’s going to be Sunday afternoon. The second practice may be like it’s going to be late Sunday afternoon. He who has the best adjustability is the guy who is going to be able to win the race.”

DO YOU THINK YOU HELPED RUSTY MAKE HIS DECISION TO RETIRE? “I didn’t do the big retirement deal. I guess there were several reasons for that. I guess it just wasn’t right for me. I don’t know how I could physically have run every race and been able to do a fanfare deal every week. To me, that’s asking too much and taking away too much from the team. I saw what Richard went through in the ‘90s when he retired and what a struggle that whole deal was. I wanted to do things on my own terms for a period of time and see where things fall. Next year we could run 10-12 races with this program, and hopefully McDonald’s will come back and run some next year.”

WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE SPORT THAT YOU CAN COME IN AND QUALIFY THIRD? “Don’t misunderstand me. It’s a whole different era as far as NASCAR is concerned, but for us as competitors we just know where we’ve got to show us next week. We look at it a little differently than the media or the outside public looks at it week in and week out. It is a big deal. To come back to Southern California after losing Riverside in ’88 is very important to the sport. Continuing to grow it coming back with the second event on Labor Day weekend, the people that run it need to make the decision. Right now, I just like where I’m at. I just like driving the racecar.”

Elliott Qualifies Third at Cali
“It was good," said Bill Elliott after qualifying third for the Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway. "I was really impressed. These guys do a heck of a job. To go from so far back to so far forward…. I don’t know that ain’t going to be enough for the pole. I know it’s going to cool off and get a little better, but still, for us it’s as good as. For me not having any points and everything you’ve got to struggle through each and every week, especially when you come back on a limited deal. We unloaded and we were really bad and you ask yourself what’s wrong. Then you go out and qualify and run decent and it puts it all in perspective.

“I’m just proud for all the guys and for McDonald’s to be back for this race and Atlanta in about six weeks. I’m looking forward to doing them some good. Hopefully we can turn things around and put things better in sight for next year. Ten to 12 races is still what my goal is. I don’t know that I want to do any more than that. For this year, I’ve not really done enough. We’ve tested a good bit the last few weeks and I’ve got comfortable with the car.

“We got with the guys and sat down and analyzed where we were at. I really didn’t know what we had. This is my first race back with McDonald’s in a number of years and having them on the car, I’m really proud of that association. I wanted to do them some good. I didn’t want to get in the position where we didn’t make the race or had to do something else. I just went out there and said I’ve got to go. That’s what we ended up with, and I don’t know what we could have done to be any better.

“I think you’ve got to look at it as a twofold deal. We stay fresher by running a limited deal, but you lose a little sharpness from running every week. On the other side, you’ve got Jeremy and Kasay running every week and you can keep up with what’s going on. This stuff don’t change that much from the standpoint of week in and week out. I just get maybe a little bit rusty, but I’ve been trying to run a lot. We’ve been testing a lot and that’s kinda gotten me back where I need to be. It may take me a little time to figure out the particulars, like coming here and not running here in the spring trying to see where I am as far as the setup goes for tomorrow morning.

“We changed everything but the driver after practice. We could change the driver. We’re out of provisions. I kinda of surprised myself. I asked Sammy (team director Johns) what we ran and he told me and I thought he was kidding. The car felt good. You get those days where everything comes together, and we’ll see what happens. I know somebody is going to come up and run quicker. If we can stay in that top 10, I’m very happy with what we gained over practiced. To me that’s a positive sign. I think the 9 and 19 and some of those guys are going to be good. I feel like the track will be better, and they’ll be tough to beat.”

“Bill Elliott did good," said Kyle Petty. "I was pulling for him. If he had gone late he’d be on the pole. If he’d had the 9 or 19’s draw he’d be on the pole, but that’s Awesome Bill. He’s not old, and even if he is old, he’s been resting for about three months. He’s got plenty of rest on all of us, but he ain’t old man. Believe me, when you get out there driving against him, you think it’s Kasey Kahne driving that thing, not bill Elliott.

"Elliott is an awesome driver," said pole-winner Brian Vickers. "Anybody that has accomplished as much as he has in his career and I think he made the right move. He's still having fun. I can totally see when you've been in the sport as long as he has it will wear you out. To run this many races a year as long as he has, he did it right. He still loves racing as much as any of us, but he wanted to take a break and he did it the right way. He's obviously running really good but I'm glad that he didn't retire completely because I like Elliott. The more competition and better drivers that are out there like him and others, the more challenging it is. If this GMAC team is going to win a race, we want to beat the best doing it."

McDonald's Opens Drive-Thru for Elliott
McDonald's Corporation announced that it will be the primary sponsor on Bill Elliott's car at two upcoming NASCAR Nextel Cup races -- Sept. 5 at California Speedway in Fontana and Oct. 31 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
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Elliott Comes Home 9th at Brickyard
“I didn’t have anything to lose," said Bill Elliott after his ninth-place effort at Indianapolis. "I was just trying to hang in and have a good day. That green-white checkered worked, but it worked at the expense of some good race teams. The sad side about it is that the race teams have got to pay for it. I never could get the nose of the car under me. We struggled with it all day long. We were pretty good Saturday in Happy Hour, but the track was pretty green and it got hot and slick today. I just couldn’t keep the nose under it.”

Elliott Starts 18th at Indy
BILL ELLIOTT (No. 91 Visteon Dodge) – Qualified 18th
“I figure if I’m in the top 15 or top 20 with where I’m at in points and everything else I’ve got going against me between the points and my draw, then that was all I needed to be concerned about today. I just wanted to get in a solid lap and get in the race. Now we’ll work on the race setup and get ready to race tomorrow. For us, this is a critical race. When Bobby went out and blew up I knew it wasn’t good, but we got through that and we’ll see where we end up and how we stack up for the race.”

Elliott Shares Indy-Style Memories During Indy Test
2002 Brickyard 400 winner Bill Elliott shared memories during Brickyard 400 testing July 19 of the day he drove an Indy-style open-wheel race car prepared by Chip Ganassi's team. It was at Michigan International Speedway in the early 1990s, when NASCAR entrants in the International Race of Champions (IROC) series were on hand for a PPG Indy Car World Series race as part of a double-header.
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Bill Elliott and Elvis Presley on the Same Racetrack? Only in Memphis
On the front steps of Sun Studio, and in harmony with today's worldwide celebration of "50 Years of Rock 'n' Roll," officials from Memphis Motorsports Park, along with Elvis Presley Enterprises, the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau and Action Performance Companies, announced that legendary NASCAR driver Bill Elliott will compete in the Sam's Town ‘He Dared To Rock’ 250 on October 23, 2004 at Memphis Motorsports Park - in a specially-designed race car sponsored by Lucas Oil and Boyd Gaming Corporation’s Sam’s Town Tunica Hotel & Gambling Hall.
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Elliott to Run No. 91 Visteon Dodge at Brickyard 400
Bill Elliott, winner of 44 NASCAR events, will pilot the No. 91 Visteon Dodge for Evernham Motorsports at the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, August 8. Elliott, who is running a limited campaign in 2004, won the 2002 Brickyard 400, becoming the first driver to win the event from the front row. He also captured the historic first win for Evernham Motorsports on November 11, 2001, at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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Elliott to Run Coca-Cola C2 Car Over Fourth of July Weekend at Daytona
Eight Coca-Cola C2 NASCAR race cars will hit the track at Daytona over the Fourth of July weekend to help promote the newest soft drink from Coca-Cola, making it one of Coca-Cola’s largest race weekend NASCAR promotions in the history of the company.
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Elliott Spends His Free Time Testing at Daytona
Bill Elliott’s 2004 racing season is like no other he has had in his career. For the first time since 1983, Elliott isn’t running a full NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule. Instead, the two-time Daytona 500 winner and 1988 NASCAR champion is competing in select races in the No. 91 Dodge for owner Ray Evernham.
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Petty, Elliott Turn Test Laps at Daytona
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Kyle Petty and Bill Elliott kicked off a two-day test session on Tuesday at historic Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the 46th annual Pepsi 400 on Saturday night, July 3.
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Elliott, Petty to Test Daytona
Evernham Motorsports and driver Bill Elliott and Petty Enterprises and driver Kyle Petty are expected to participate in a two-day test session in preparation for the 46th annual Pepsi 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Saturday night, July 3. Elliott, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, has won the Pepsi 400 twice (1988 and 1991). This year, he’s running a limited number of NEXTEL Cup Series races for Evernham Motorsports. Petty, who won his first career stock car race at the “World Center of Racing” in the 1979 ARCA 200, competes full-time in the NEXTEL Cup Series in the No. 45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge. His father Richard Petty captured his 200th NASCAR victory 20 years ago in July in the 1984 Pepsi Firecracker 400. The test session is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.

Evernham Motorsports Hosts Third Annual Fan Appreciation Day
Evernham Motorsports will hold its third annual Evernham Motorsports Fan Appreciation Day featuring Jeremy Mayfield, Kasey Kahne, Ray Evernham and Bill Elliott to thank fans for their support of the team and provide them an opportunity to meet the stars of Evernham Motorsports in person.
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Tire Woes Relegate Fast Elliott to 36th at Texas
BILL ELLIOTT (No. 91 Evernham Motorsports Dodge)
“We had a good racecar. Kasey has driven his tail off. He’s got a real good car on long runs. I hope he can hold them off. My car got a little too tight on long runs. We just cut a tire down, plain and simple. I tried to get to pit road. It was just one of them days. I was proud of the effort. We had a real good racecar, stayed in the top five, top 10 most of the day. We got off a little bit when the sun went in, but all in all, we had a pretty good car.

“You have your ups and downs in this sport. I don’t know when you’ll see me again (racing). It’ll probably be awhile.

“That 9 car is really tough on the long runs. He can’t get going, but he’s tough on the long runs. He’s doing an excellent job. It seems like his car works well wherever he goes. He had a hard time getting starting, but about 20-25 laps into the run he really goes. He’s got a lot of racing experience and knowledge. You’ve just got to understand these long races. That’s the key to this stuff.”

Wake up with Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham, owner of Evernham Motorsports, was the guest in today's Nextel wake-up call. Evernham fields Dodges for Kasey Kahne, Jeremy Mayfield, and Bill Elliott.
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Front-Row Start for Elliott in Texas
BILL ELLIOTT (No. 91 Evernham Motorsports Dodge) – Qualified Second
“I’m just trying to keep up with Kasey. He’s been running awful well lately, and I’m proud of what he’s been doing lately. I think that shows how well Ray’s organization came together at the end of last year. Jeremy (Mayfield) and myself either finished in the top five or top 10 every single race. He’s got some good equipment and parts and pieces and some good people. That’s what it takes to run this sport.

“I’m just proud to be here. This is only my second event this year, and I’m just proud to be as competitive as we are this weekend. We don’t have anybody on the car, so if you want to throw in a couple of bucks I’m sure Ray will talk to you. I don’t know how low he’d go. You look at the guys who run each and every week. Kasey has run well, and a lot of the other guys are coming on. That’s just going to be part of the sport. Eventually it keeps weeding the older generation out. I still feel good physically from that side of it. I’m enjoying my role and basically just taking it a step at a time.

“The first couple of times I didn’t fare well here. IT was kinda like my first couple of experiences at Homestead. We came here and tested before the race in ’99 and finally figured some things out. They came back and redid the track a little bit, and that seemed to help. I think between that and figuring out what the car needed at these kind of places brought it all full circle for me. Last year we had an exceptionally good car. It went straight to the front and we led right away. We ended up tearing a motor up and we got to go home early. That’s all part of it, but I was very pleased with our qualifying today and hopefully we’ll keep that up through practice.

“The last I talked to Ray after this race I think we’re kinda in the hold mode for awhile. If things don’t change, I think Indy will be our next race. If things change, we’ll address it from that standpoint. Regardless of what happens sponsorship wise, I’m pleased with the way Ray’s organization has progressed. This is an in-house car and it seems to have a lot of potential to it.

“I haven’t been in a car since Vegas. We were one of the few cars that stopped at the end for fuel and we ended up 20th. I really think we had a top 10 car at Vegas. We had a good car, but I feel like this car is quite a bit better. I’ve been running the late model dirt cars at home and just playing around. I don’t think you get too far away from this, and I’ve been doing a lot of testing, too. From a racing standpoint, the basics are still the same.”

“I really sat down during the winter and evaluated the feelings I was going to have when the season started in 2004. Honestly, I thought I might be jealous or I might be this or I might be that. I’m truly happy with what he’s doing. He’s a good kid. He’s got a good future in the sport. This sport will chew you up and spit you out. That’s where you’ve got to roll with the ups and downs. Right now he’s on the upswing. I’m very proud of him, and I’m proud of Ray’s whole organization.

“Honestly, I don’t even feel like I’ve missed a race from my standpoint. This is no different than it being the second race of the season rather than the seventh. There are things I miss. I miss some people, but after listening to some of the comments after Bristol last week, I don’t miss the going home angry over certain things. That I don’t miss. I miss the competitive side of it, but the emotions of that up and down roller-coaster as the day goes on, I don’t miss that side of it.

“I don’t know how he (Ray Evernham) wants to progress it (in-house chassis). Right now we’re running it to see where it’s going to fit in. From my standpoint, I think it’s going well. I think it’s probably ahead of schedule. This is a second generation car.

“It doesn’t feel any different from me than running a Busch race or any other race. I’ve really trained myself hard not to think about I’m missing a race. I look at it like it’s just another race. I just don’t think about it.

“I think a lot of people underestimated his (Kasey Kahne’s) potential. Putting him in good equipment right off the bat and giving him confidence with what he needs. I’ve tried to help him every way I can in every area, but there are certain things he’s going to have to learn and grow himself. Just like patience at Bristol, from what I saw wasn’t his fault. As hard as he works, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with sooner than later. Looking at him in his Busch days last year, a lot of people would overlook him, but I feel like he’s almost there.”

“Those guys (crew) have a way of giving you inspiration. I’m very pleased with the car. Going out second I think was a little bit of a negative, but we’ll see where we end up. It was decent depending on where everybody else runs. There are a lot of good cars here, and I don’t know where we’ll end up. When they came back and redid this place, they made the track a lot better. Still, to me it’s more of an unforgiving place, a lot moreso than Atlanta. Atlanta has multiple grooves, and this place just doesn’t seem to have one. Maybe we’ll see more of that second groove as the Busch race goes along on Saturday. It got a little more racy here last year. Normally you’ll see a guy make the pass and go on and not run side by side. That’s just due to the racetrack configuration. I feel that was a good lap for the time we went. It’ll just depend on where the temperature goes here in a little bit. I’m sure that’ll have a lot to do with it. It’s one of these places that if you hit it right, somebody is going to beat you. If not, you’ve got a chance to sit on the pole. I think as the temperature goes down that’s going to be the determining factor.”

Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Bill Elliott Notes
The No. 91 Evernham Dodge is running the new Evernham-designed chassis at Texas. It first ran the chassis at the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The team will convert most of its racecars to the Evernham chassis this season. The chassis was designed by the Evernham engineering team along with Dodge Motorsports engineering.
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Elliott Rolls a 20 in Las Vegas
“We were OK. Our car was pretty decent," said Bill Elliott, who's next race in the No. 91 Evernham Motorsports Dodge will be at Texas Motor Speedway. "Our team worked hard to make us competitive, but we just couldn’t get any traction. The new Evernham chassis was pretty good. We learned a lot about it, so we can go do some more work on it.”

Elliott Qualifies 10th in Vegas
“We ended up with a decent qualifying spot and now we can get ready for the race," said Bill Elliott following his 10th-place qualifying effort. "I’m trying to learn these guys and what I want and what they want and work through this new chassis. We’ll be OK.”

Elliott to Debut New Evernham Chassis
Bill Elliott will compete in his first points race of the season in Sunday’s UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Elliott will drive the No. 91 UAW-DaimlerChrysler NTC Dodge with an Evernham Motorsports chassis, the first production in-house chassis built by Evernham Motorsports.
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No. 38 Busch Crew to Pit Elliott in Vegas
NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne is driving overtime this season, competing fulltime in the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. This weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, five of the seven over-the-wall crewmembers of the Kahne's No. 38 Great Clips team will also pull double duty.
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UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 - Bill Elliott Notes
The No. 91 UAW-National Training Center/Evernham Dodge is running the new Evernham-designed chassis this week at Las Vegas. The team will convert most of its race cars to the Evernham chassis this season. The chassis was designed by the Evernham engineering team along with Dodge Motorsports engineering. It was tested at Las Vegas earlier this year.
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Elliott 14th in Budweiser Shootout
“It just wouldn’t go anywhere," said Bill Elliott after piloting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Dodge to a 14th-place finish in the Budweiser Shootout. "We were hoping to have a better run, but we’ll just go to work now and try to help Kasey and Jeremy get ready for the Daytona 500.”

Elliott Teams Up with Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the Budweiser Shootout
Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham announced today that his charity foundation, Racing For A Reason, is expanding it's relationship with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to a national level to raise awareness about the critical need to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society logo will be displayed on the Evernham Motorsports #91 Dodge that Bill Elliott will drive in the Bud Shootout this Saturday, February 7, at the Daytona International Speedway.
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Elliott Media Day Quotes
Elliott will compete in his 19th Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. He won the 1987 Shootout from the pole position. He ranks first in Shootout starts and laps completed (515). Elliott will not race in the 2004 Daytona 500. “I want to be an asset to the team, not a liability. I knew if I ran the Shootout and Jeremy is also running the Shootout, I knew I could help both Jeremy and Kasey. It’s so different right now. I’m not thinking about the 125s or Daytona 500 at all. I enjoyed the 125s in the past, but right now my role is to help Jeremy and Kasey and that’s a very different role for me.”
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Awesome Bill Returns for 19th Shootout Start
How much is Bill Elliott a part of Budweiser Shootout history? It's simple. Out of 25 Shootouts, the tall, red-head driver from Dawsonville, Ga., has competed in all but seven of them, and he has missed only four since making his debut in 1982 - the year mullets were cool, Pac Man was hot, and E.T. was becoming America's favorite alien.
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Media Tour: Evernham Motorsports
Ray Evernham, along with his drivers Bill Elliott, Jeremy Mayfield, and Kasey Kahne, and crew chiefs Kenny Francis and Tommy Baldwin, held a question and answer session during the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Media Tour.
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Elliott Ready for the Budweiser Shootout
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Bill Elliott will be racing the No. 91 Evernham Motorsports Dodge in the Budweiser Shootout, Saturday night, Feb. 7 under the lights at historic Daytona International Speedway. During this week's NEXTEL Cup Series testing, Elliott, who is running a limited schedule in 2004, has been gaining information that will not only help himself, but his Evernham Motorsports teammates as well.

"The (Daytona) 500 is such an important race for Dodge and the race team as a whole," Elliott said. "To me, that's the key part. I feel like I can contribute by running the Budweiser Shootout and be a part of that and then help them through the (Gatorade) 125s and the 500 - Jeremy (Mayfield) or Kasey (Kahne) either one."

Even though the no-holds barred All-Star race is the only race Elliott is scheduled to compete in during Speedweeks, he is not counting out the Daytona 500 if the opportunity presents itself.

"I may be in it," Elliott said. "We'll see what transpires, but right now I don't know. I'm just here to fit in anywhere I can. I'm just part of the puzzle. Plug me in wherever I need to be. If something came up, I'm sure Ray would entertain the idea."

Elliott Daytona Testing Quotes
“I’ll be here the whole time (Speedweeks), just any way I can help out. If things had been a little bit different, I probably would have tried to work on running the 500. I felt like at this point in time and as late as everything came together, I didn’t want to take away from Jeremy and Kasey trying to get all their focus on the 500. The 500 is such an important race for Dodge and the race team as a whole. To me, that’s the key part. I feel like if I can contribute by running the Bud Shootout and be a part of that and then help them through the 125s and 500 - Jeremy or Kasey either one.”
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Elliott Wraps Up Daytona Test Session at 8th on Speed Chart

Elliott Sixth Fastest in Second Day of Daytona Tests

Elliott Third Fastest During Opening Day of Second Daytona Tests

Evernham Motorsports Announces Plans for 2004 Season
Evernham Motorsports announced its lineup this morning for the 2004 NASCAR season. The lineup will include NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, who will run a reduced race schedule in an Evernham Motorsports Dodge; NASCAR Busch Series standout Kasey Kahne, who will succeed Elliott as the driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge; Jeremy Mayfield, who will continue as driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge; and Tommy Baldwin, who will join Evernham Motorsports as team director for the No. 9 Dodge team.
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Dodge This Teleconference: Evernham Motorsports Announcement
Ray Evernham, Bill Elliott and Kasey Kahne held a media teleconference immediately following the New York Press Conference, in which it was announced that Elliott would run a reduced schedule in 2004 and Kasey Kahne was named as driver of the No. 9 Dodge Intrepid.
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Evernham Motorsports to Unveil 2004 Lineup
Evernham Motorsports, including Ray Evernham, Bill Elliott and Jeremy Mayfield, will announce its driver lineup for the No. 9 and No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Intrepids for the 2004 season at the Winston Media Center at the Waldorf Astoria on Thursday, December 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Ford Leaves Evernham Motorsports, Returns to RYR
Robert Yates Racing announced today several changes to key personnel positions for the No. 88 UPS and No. 38 M&Ms® Racing Teams. Eddie D’Hondt was hired in late October to assume the role of General Manager for the organization, while Mike Ford and Barry Swift return to RYR where the pair was part of the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship team. Effective immediately, Ford will assume crew chief duties for driver Dale Jarrett and the No. 88 UPS Team while Swift will oversee all work performed while serving as the shop foreman for both teams.
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Akins Motorsports Teams with Evernham Motorsports
Akins Motorsports, one of the premier teams in the NASCAR Busch Series, has instituted changes aimed at accomplishing one goal in 2004 - winning the NASCAR Busch Series championship. The No. 38 team will begin contending for championships in Dodge-manufactured equipment in the NASCAR Busch Series. Evernham Motorsports will support the team's Dodge effort with its technical assets and prepare the motors that Akins Motorsports will utilize in the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
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