05.23
As the laps wound down in the final 20-lap segment of Saturday’s Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Eddie Wood had plenty to be happy about even as it was evident that the team’s famed No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion would not advance to the All-Star race. Wood saw a car that he feels will be formidable when the green flag drops next Sunday to start one of NASCAR’s showcase races, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. After some helpful chassis adjustments on the one pit stop in the non-points Showdown, Bill Elliott and the No. 21 were turning fast lap times as he worked his way up through the field, moving from 19th position with 18 laps to go to 12th in just six laps. Elliott wound up 12th as Ford drivers swept eight of the top-12 finishing positions in the preliminary event for the annual Sprint All-Star Challenge. “Bill’s lap times were really good the last few laps, as good as anybody’s,” said Wood, the co-owner of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford. That’s especially encouraging because the car the Woods used in the Showdown is the same one they’ll run in the 600. And that’s the same car that was fast in the closing laps at Texas Motor Speedway last month. “We learned a lot this weekend, and we got through the Showdown without tearing up the car,” he said. “All in all, it was a good tune-up for the 600.” Wood said that Elliott and crew chief David Hyder were able to use the Showdown to work on both a qualifying set-up for the 600 as well as some adjustments to use in the day-to-night marathon next Sunday. “We were a little too loose in qualifying and then we were a little too tight in the Showdown,” he said. “But now we have a better idea of what we’ll need next week.” Wood said he was especially glad to see that the team’s adjustments on the one pit stop in the Showdown improved the handling and speed of the car, and he was proud to know that the car ran well under a setting sun, since that’s what they’ll have to deal with next week in the Memorial Day weekend classic. “We’re focused on the 600 now,” Wood said.
Qualify well, stay out of trouble, remain on the lead lap and execute all stops well and bring home a top ten.
The times listed on nascar.com did show #21 putting down good laps.. Last segment always seems to have lots of wrecks so maybe it was better to get the info… Use it next weekend. Staying out of trouble gets back to the saying “I’d rather be lucky than good somedays”. Have a great week Elliotts !
I was disappointed that Bill wasn’t at least voted into the All-star race, but thanks to everyone that voted for Awesome Bill .Hopefully Bill will have a really great run next week. No offense to CNDBILLFAN, but I think that our mindset is being distorted (mine included) by hoping that Bill will finish in the top ten. I know that when Bill is racing I’m happy with a top 10 or 15 finish, but I believe in my heart, that Bill is still capable of winning, so I going to say that I hope Bill wins next week.
And Mike Joy is full of —-, he tried to compare baseball all-stars to NASCAR all-stars, there are 750 active baseball players at one time, and I agree that not all of them can be all-stars every year. Please read this Mike Joy, BILL ELLIOTT IS AN ALL-STAR IN THE SPORT OF NASCAR. Every year
Bill did have a good run saturday, but it could have been better. WBR needs to get the set up right to start the race, and this has been a problem for quite a while. They lose a lot of track position at the start of a race, and are trying to dig themselves out of a hole. Get it right guys and watch your wheel man kick ___ and take names. Looking forward to a great run this Sunday. Going to celebrate my birthday, and an awesome run from WBR would be the icing on the cake. Go Bill!! Also congrats to Chase on a great finish, Cooler heads will prevail.
My thoughts, Bill is without a doubt an All-Star, I think any past series champion should get an automatic bid to the big race if he is currently racing. So, not to say DW comes down from the booth and gets in the race.
As for Bill, I would give anything to see him in a competitive car. WBR are great folks, we all know that. But, poor set-ups, slow pit stops kill Bill in every race. He digs himseld out after every stop. He passes more cars then anyonw just getting back to where he was.
In closing, Let’s get King Richard to put Bill in the 9 car for at least one final season and see him run in a Good car. Now to me, that would be AWESOME!
Best to Bill and family!
I’m with you TMac52 put Bill back in the 9 car, it’s were he belongs anyway. I bet he’ll win then!!!