05.31
NASCAR’s longest race was just that for Bill Elliott and the crew of the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion. Elliott started the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway from 25th place, but he and the team fought handling issues throughout the race before winding up 27th behind race winner Kurt Busch.
“We were too tight at first, and we got it freed up, but then it didn’t have good drive-off off the corners,” Elliott said. Still, the No. 21 hung onto the lead lap for much of the race before dropping behind in the second half. Elliott was able to capitalize once on the “wave-around” rule that allows drivers ahead of the race leader after pit stops to circle around the track and stay on the lead lap.
But Lady Luck let Elliott and his team down later in the race as the timing of the caution flags worked against them. “We were just a lap or two away from getting a lap back two more times,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said. “We just didn’t have any breaks go our way.” But Wood was proud of the way his crew kept working on the No. 21 on a long, disappointing night.
“We chased the race track all night,” he said, explaining that track conditions at Charlotte change dramatically over the course of a race that starts in the hot afternoon sun and runs until several hours past sunset. “As the race track changed, we chased it the best we could.”
Elliott and the Wood Brothers return to Sprint Cup action on June 11-13 at Michigan International Speedway, where the familiar red-and-white Motorcraft/Quick Lane paint scheme will be replaced by the blue-and-white colors of FordParts.com.
FordParts.com allows repair shops, body shops, fleets, and do-it-yourselfers to shop online, order and receive Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts through one site for Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles. Once a part is ordered, consumers can choose in-store pick-up or have the parts delivered to their home or shop.
Contact: Kim Hall
Wood Brothers Racing
7201 Caldwell Rd
Harrisburg, NC 28075
(704) 456-1421
kim@woodbrothersracing.com
We were at the race on Sunday. I kinda felt sorry for Bill hanging around the back of the pack all night. Wish they could get some better equipment under him. I know he could do much better! Keep after ‘em Bill, maybe a little luck will come your way.
I wish Bill would get a better team!!!! It’s not Bill’s fault.
it’s a shame. i watch every race bill is in and now i just hope for a respectable 15th. not a whole lot to cheer about. i’ll watch until my eyes bleed, but sure would be nice to have a competitive car. one that would sometimes challenge. no reason to run like this.
I DO THINK IT’S TIME TO START LOOKING AT THE CREW CHIEF. HE HAD A WEEK AND A HALF TO GET THAT CAR RIGHT! THE CAR LOOKED A LOT BETTER IN THE SECOND 20 LAPS OF THE SHOW DOWN. ONE THINGS FOR SURE, BILL IS GOING TO RUN THE CAR WHERE IT WILL RUN. I BET THAT CAR DOSN’T HAVE A SCRCH ON IT!!
Bill please drive the #9 for petty next year. I’m tired of seeing these crappy runs. What I hate most is the woods saying we learned alot proove you learned something for once. The only thing you learned is how to make the car go right to the back half of the field and ride. Bill listening to the scanner lastnight you were not happy driving the car and I don’t blame you. I even heard the spotter say it sounded like your fun meter was pegged and you make the comment once you were ready to get this race over when the was still over 100 laps left. Thats not a very good vibe to the team. If your heart is not 100 % into running as hard as you can for the 21 you should look somewhere else for a ride like your old #9 car. That would be great. It also don’t look to me that Hyder can set up a racecar. Its always fast to late like when you are a lap or more down. Get with the #9 at least you would have a chance and make us fans happy.
When Bill owned his #94 team in the 1990′s , there was always a good chance that he would pull off a top 5 and lead some laps at the bigger tracks. Today, if you don’t run every race and have unlimited resources, a top 25 is a good run. Still I long for the days when the #9 and the #94 were up front .
I must be feeling down because of the economy. I still tune in and hope for some luck.
Also, if you look at the Ford teams in general, all of the Roush Yates teams are not a real threat at the end of any race to win.
Better get Ernie out of Dawsonville to work on those intake manifolds and heads.
Bill you have been my idol from the very first, you were a family owned race team and that is what made you, you, family. I stll think the Woods have it because they too are a family team, but Luck needs to be there. Just remember Bill your worst day at the track is by far better that my best day at my work.I will keep watching and waiting, you and the Woods will be back.
Thanks for all you have done for this sport and me.
CJ
just be competitive half of the time would be great. occasionally lead some laps. maybe michigan will bring home better results. but i fear it will be more of the same. under funded the team may be, but they need to quit being conservative and go after it. take some chances. good luck in the next race. i’ll be watching.
Awesome One, I know that you got one more in you. I will pull for you no matter what. I never have been so excited when in 2001 you won at Homestead and broke a long winless streak. I hope you dont get burnt out trying to turn the Wood Brothers program around. I wish you the best at Michigan, and what a victory that would be at your best track. Go Bill!
So tired of having expectations of a decent run and being let down during the race. I only watch when Bill is racing and get frustrated watching the #21 go 1,2,3 laps down on tracks I know he should be competitive. I know the partial schedule is not helping but try and least put together a top 15 performance week-in and week-out that the car does run. I know Bill can still get it done, it is time the crew (the entire bunch), start doing their share. You can always tell when Bill has a good piece under him….he’ll go out and race. On the other hand you can also tell when he does not……he stays conservative and tries to bring the car home in one piece……honestly I’m tires of seeing the conservative Bill Elliott. I want to see the Bill that has won 44 races and a championship! Get it figured out!
Come on guys, it seems liuke everyone is in a negitive mood. I agree that not having the set up right to start the race has been WBR’s biggest fault, but I am not ready to give up on anyone yet. Remember they changed from the wing to the spoiler not long ago, and it is the first time for a spoiler on this car. I think it might take a little adjustment to get everything right. I’m going to ride it out through Indy, and then I’ll make my comments on changes. Someday I would love to sit down and talk racing with Bill, just to find out just what it does take to get a car just right.
What it takes to get the car just right is a lot of money! Money to hire more people. People who are knowlegable. The last I heard Hendrick had about 25 engineers. Wood Brothers 2 or 3. Top notch people are getting paid by Hendrick, Gibbs, Roush, Childress, MWR, Ganassi, etc. Even Furniture Row has 3 teams that are attemping to run every race. There is not a company in the world who has the capital to help this team? It is very disheartening. You have to run better to get that money. You have to have money to run better. A vicious cycle that the Woods can’t get ahead of. Last year, they made gains. Visible gains. Better finishes. A lug nut between the wheel and the hub at Indy ended a real chance for this team. A lug between the wheel on a pit stop. Glen Wood has been around over 60 years in this business. Never saw that before. But it ended their real chance at a top 5 or 10. Bad luck. They have to have every break go their way without the money. It won’t. The best they can do at this point is top 20-25. I am discouraged. But, I am not giving up. Bill, you can win! I am not sure the Wood Brothers can at this point. Money, Money, Money. Find it somewhere, somehow. I want an Elliott victory lane celebration in the Cup Series for Bill. Chase can have his in 5 years or so.
With Jack Roush running all of Ford’s Cup racing this year, how do you expect the Woods to run well, with limited funding and being Jack’s step-child, when Jack’s own cars aren’t running worth a dime. Bill and the Woods are damn good people, it’s just the situation that they are in.
GO BILL AND CHASE!
Bill unfortunately will not run the #9 car. For who, for what, us? This is the team and I believe now in my heart this will be it. The car and team can not win on this level or any other level in nascar. I would love to see Bill end his career at Daytona, with one more run with his brother. I would hope it would be a Ford but whatever. The Woods maybe good people but they are done! If this is how we are going to ride then you might as well not show up, hope you can get a better car Bill.
Hey Bill, I am already looking forward to MIS. I would love to see you run good there! Reading the comments, I think everybody including you, was expecting a better run at Charlotte, I know I was! But thats ok good runs are coming. Good Luck in the Prelude! I hope you take it toem! OH yea by the way, STAY AWAY FROM NEWMAN!!! I will be watching at MIS YOU CAN COUNT ON IT!!!!
The Woods have to combine/merge with someone else. Today you have be a 2 or 3 car team at least to compete. Seems there may have been a chance when Marcos Ambrose was there with TGR. They went with MWR and Toyota. I doubt they would merge with Richard Petty Racing but that would be a place to start. RPM losing Kahne. Menard seems to be the only stable team over there right now. Elliott Sadler is a very affable guy, but he doesn’t win. Only a few times in his career (at least 1 with the Woods). Historically the Petty’s & Woods didn’t get along at times. If they want there to be a history from this point forward that includes them, they should merge. Allmendinger doing ok, but I think all the driver’s contracts are up this year. And Petty is in Fords this year. What would you call it? Egos could get in the way. Petty/Wood Brothers Racing? PWBR? I think the Gillette’s do not need to be involved beyond the financing. Just some thoughts.