be9ak7ts16
Johali Lives
I'm about as big a Bill Elliott fan as there is. Been rooting for him since the late 70's. Bill, it's time to hang it up. The magic is gone.
Say GoodNight Bill
- Thread starter be9ak7ts16
- Start date
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I think that the magic was gone somewhere about the end of 2003.
Bucky Badger
Go Kyle Go
M
Mopardh9
Guest
I think Bill is a product of the equipment he is in right now. I'd like to see what he would do in a Hendrick car for just one race. Granted he isn't what he once was , but given a good ride I'd like to see what he could do.
Bucky Badger
Go Kyle Go
despite the fact that he was leading on the last lap of his last full time season until that tire blew, so I disagree Bill still has it he isn't a Labonte who couldn't make anything competitive Bill still can be
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
His last full time season was in 2003. That's a long, long time ago.
kelloggs5TLfan
Team Owner
Bucky Badger
Go Kyle Go
Benevolent One
Team Owner
Bill hasn't really been the same since they switched from bias ply tires. He was occasionally competitive after that, but not really the force he was before that. It is kinda sad too. Awesome Bill from Dawsonville was one of the best there was for a certain time. He's the main reason we have restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega. That time has come and gone a long time ago.
i saw he was competitve the entire time except when he tried to run his own team from 94-00 those years he didn't win but when he went to Evernham he started winning again
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
I'm pretty sure that the transition from the bias ply tires took place in 1989. Bill was still fairly awesome after that wining 15 times during those next 15, almost, full time seasons. He sure wasn't what he one was though. Today @ 54, IMO he's just a shadow of his formal self.
Benevolent One
Team Owner
If memory serves, they switched in 1992. I could be wrong though. I was wrong once last week, so it could happen again.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
One thing that I do know for sure is that Bill is not the old Bill.
Benevolent One
Team Owner
Bucky Badger
Go Kyle Go
That is one reason I respect Rusty to this day...He never had to buy rides...he didn't retire and come back. He didn't semi retire. He held his own until he retired. He retired with some wins. He knew it was time.
how is exactly is Bill buying rides?
Bucky Badger
Go Kyle Go
I'ts a general statement about past drivers that should have known when it's time to retire.
MRM
Team Owner
Nope, he's just Old Bill.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
buckaroo
Here kitty, kitty, kitty
Well, let's add Bobby Labonte to the same list. I bet that if you put Mark Martin in that 21 car that he too would be given the boot by many here. Honestly, let's look at the age of the drivers. Can we put Jeff Burton in that class too? For those who think Bill no longer has what it takes, tell me who you believe would make that 21 car competitive enough to win a race. I hate to see my top favorite go out like this, but it isn't anything new. The real problem here is NASCAR allowing a few owners to dominate the racing. But let me ask, and this will show the newbies from us oldies, who should be in the HOF first, Leonard Wood or Rick Hendrick? Who will probably make it first...probably Rick which would be a crime.
wilson89
Team Owner
21 car can still be competitive. 2 years ago they put Ambros in it at Infinion and he ran 3rd the whole race until the last few laps. Hate to admit it but im sure Kyle Busch could run well in that car, remember the #18 car how terrible it was at the end with Bobby Labonte and JJ Yeley and then he came in and dominated. I can see Bill wanting to run Daytona and Atlanta but other than that I could careless to be honest. There are guys that just dont know when to hang it up and end up embarassing themselvs. Remember when Darrell Waltrip was still driving a few years ago? Right now there are several guys still doing that, Bobby Labonte is the obvious one. Bill Elliot as we already discussed, Geoff Bodine still trying to make races with no hope. Terry Labonte just using his champions provisional to ensure a start and park team a start.
Tennessee Racing
Formerly Stewart Fan
I think Bill just runs for the paycheck and so he has something to do. The Wood Brothers really seem to be far behind the rest of the teams in terms of equipment. Someone mentioned that they were running 3rd with Marcos one year but that wasn't because the car was good, it was because Ambrose is just really good on the road courses. Maybe they should consider moving down to Nationwide or something?
Bobby Labonte is a good guy and I hate to see him running so bad. I had high hopes for BL when you went to the #71 car because it started out so well but now he's nothing but a field filler. I still believe if he had one more chance in a good car(I'm talking like RCR or Hendrick) he could do much better. Lots of drivers just don't know when to hang up the racing boots. You look at guys like Terry Labonte(another good guy) but every time he agrees to start and park for some no budget team the days of him winning two titles get more and more distant in the past.
I don't like him but I respect that Rusty Wallace quit racing and didn't come back even for one race(no the Legend race doesn't count). He retired and stayed retired. Guys like Terry Labonte and Bill Elliot and even Mark Martin(he's retired what 3 times) should really follow his example.
Bobby Labonte is a good guy and I hate to see him running so bad. I had high hopes for BL when you went to the #71 car because it started out so well but now he's nothing but a field filler. I still believe if he had one more chance in a good car(I'm talking like RCR or Hendrick) he could do much better. Lots of drivers just don't know when to hang up the racing boots. You look at guys like Terry Labonte(another good guy) but every time he agrees to start and park for some no budget team the days of him winning two titles get more and more distant in the past.
I don't like him but I respect that Rusty Wallace quit racing and didn't come back even for one race(no the Legend race doesn't count). He retired and stayed retired. Guys like Terry Labonte and Bill Elliot and even Mark Martin(he's retired what 3 times) should really follow his example.
ted@economy
in the interest of equal time
Yawn.. these situations keep coming around again.Everyone has such short memories. Does noone remember saying the same thing about Terry Labonte when he was a start and park finishing last every week. Some guy named Hendrick resurected his carreer from the ashes and gave him a ride in the 5 car. A good ride it was.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Short memories indeed. Bill got his career resurrected with some guy named Ray Evernham and won 4 races between 2001-2003. In race years, almost a lifetime ago.
G
Guido
Guest
Three times?
I must have missed something along the way.
And Martin has still been competitive. Why should he follow anyone's example?
kelloggs5TLfan
Team Owner
MRM
Team Owner
The Wood Brothers used to run a limited schedule back in the 70's.
Benevolent One
Team Owner
Amen, brother. Mark has always been a hell of a driver. Given equal equipment, I like his chances against just about anybody driving today. It is no secret that he has great equipment at this point in his career. It is also no secret that he drives the wheels off it.
