08.16
August 15, 2010
Bill Elliott and the crew of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion battled back from being a lap down to score a 22nd-place finish in Sunday’s Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway, topping off a day that saw the team honored for its legacy of success in NASCAR and at the Michigan track.
Elliott started 30th and maintained a spot on the lead lap until he fell a lap in arrears due to two long stretches of green-flag racing. But when the caution flag flew for an incident between Joey Logano and Ryan Newman with 51 laps to go, the Woods opted to take the wave-around and rejoined the lead lap.
But for the wave-around to be of much help, a team needs the caution flag to fly again fairly soon so they can get fresh tires and fuel since teams that opt for the wave-around can’t make a pit stop during that caution period.
Jeff Gordon’s flat tire and the resulting caution flag provided the No. 21 team that opportunity just six laps later, and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew was able to service their car and send Elliott out with fresh tires and a full tank of fuel for the final run to the checkered flag.
Elliott restarted 25th and drove to 22nd at the checkered flag.
“It was a good day,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said. “At the end of the race, we were running good lap times, but we just couldn’t get the track position we needed to capitalize.”
Wood said the over-the-wall pit crew had a good day, and Elliott did a good job getting on and off pit road as quickly as possible and without incurring a speeding penalty.
“Bill’s one of the best at getting on and off pit road,” Wood said.
Race day at Michigan started with a ceremony on pit road in which the Wood Brothers were honored with a permanent plaque commemorating the team’s 60 years in NASCAR.
The plaque, on the wall behind Victory Circle, recognizes both the Woods’ contributions to NASCAR and their history at Michigan International Speedway.
The Woods are tied with fellow Ford team owner Jack Roush for the most wins at MIS (11) with three drivers, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Dale Jarrett.
Yarborough won the first NASCAR race at Michigan back in 1969 driving for the Woods, and Dale Jarrett got his first Cup win, also with the Woods, at Michigan in 1991.
“It’s a real honor,” Eddie Wood said. “The only other plaques there are commemorating NASCAR on its 50th year and Richard Petty for his 1,000th start.”
And the fact that the honor came at Michigan made it even more special.
“It’s the home track for Ford Motor Company, and it’s like home for us too,” Wood said.
Elliott and the Woods return to action at another home track of sorts, Atlanta Motor Speedway, on Sept. 5-6. AMS is the home track for Elliott, and it’s also a place where the Woods have scored 12 Cup victories, more than any other team in the track’s 50-year history.
Why does this team race if they can’t win? I am a huge Bill Elliott fan, however, it is disheartening to watch him drive a car that can’t win. Someone please explain why teams try to race when they have no chance of winning?
Sorry to say this but when I was young I was taught winning isn’t everything but how you play the game. I would agree with the article above that Bill didn’t get the track position because of work on the car. We sat at the start/finish line and watched him race with the red bull and the mobil stockcars.. Unfortunately with the wave around you can’t even refuel but you are making that lap up ! The # 21 looked pretty good if you asked me considering where they started. Had a great weekend in Michigan including a terrific supper @ Paesanos in Ann Arbor (Italian). I would recommend it to everybody. The only thing that woud have put the weekend over the top would have been if Bill went to the Ford tent sunday morn.. I’m not blaming anyone for that as I know time is short and valuable. A respectable sunday race for this team I figure… Wish I could attend more races and watch them improve. Wasn’t happy with bowtie winning on the down side..
You better do better(from your long lost cousin)
Congratulations to Chase & Casey !!!
Great Job Bill and the Woods. Running in the top twenty and top 25 this day and age is a tough deal. They keep chipping away and we will see more top twenty and some top 15′s soon. All Elliott fans need to be positive. This is what Bill wants to do. He is helping out the Woods. If we all remember the Woods was outside the top 35 when Bill was asked to drive this #21. To show up at the track and run 18th and Indy and 22nd at Michigan is very impressive on a 12 race schedule. Bill is just helping out. He said he wanted to run full time next year and I hope he is able to. If he does not run full time I am sure he will be spending quality time with family, taking it easy and working with the BER team.
I believe that not running good and not winning is a direct reflection on the crew chief. If you look at the winning teams they all have one thing in common, a really good crew chief. I don’t believe that Jimmy Johnson could have won 4 championships without Chad. Jeff Gordon is not as nearly as successful as he was with Ray, even with all of the resources at his fingertips; he’s just not the same. So I feel in order for Awesome Bill to regain his winning ways, WBR will have to find the right crew chief. I feel deep in my heart that Bill can still win. I know that 22nd is better that 43rd but come on; you have Awesome Bill driving, give him the right personnel and he can win. Face it the 09 car won a race (a single car team running a limited schedule) with B.K. driving and I know that Bill can out drive him any day of the week, so get Bill a crew chief.
I wonder how much funding WBR is getting to run these twelve races? How much do you think they are paying Hyder? I am sure it is all limited. It took Mike Ford and Bill 3 years to win. I think Bill hired him in 99′ and still finished 21st in points. Bill can still drive and win but it takes, car, driver, team, pit stops, funding, a full schedule and a little racing luck. The all mighty $$$ .
In the articile above, it states the over the wall crew had a good day, but they never could get the track position they needed. I watched the race on TV, and had my laptop on my lap on nascar’s lap coverage. Every pit stop yellow flag or green flag, Bill would come in and then have to pass the same cars he had passed between the previous pit stop. I was watching his lap times compared to other cars in front of him, and he was faster than quite a few of them, but when you have to pass the same cars over and over you run out of time to get to the others between stops. I heard Jeff Burton jump on his crew about having to pass the same cars because they screwed up on pit road, and told them that it would b a long day that he didn’t want if they didn’t get their act together. Seems to me WBR’s over the wall gang needed a little chewing out. With the lap times I saw yesterday, and just holding your track position on each pit stop, there could have been as many as 6-7 positions gained. Bill drove a good hard race, I could tell from lap speeds and times on nascar’s site.(nothing on WBR twiter again as usual),Bill deserved a better finish than he got. To get some sponsorship for next year it will take more from WBR, unless they are just ready to stay part in the series through the good graces of Ford.
Larry,
your right, Bill did pass those same cars over and over. if his car would have been a little faster those first coulpel laps it wouldn’t have been as bad. Bill was making some good time when that caution for rain came out. That WBR Twiter yesterday was just alful. Someone mentioned they would be lessoning to Bill on the scaner. How about telling us what bill was saying in the race.
I only write Casey and Chase’s articles, but I hear what you are saying and agree it’s always best to call an ace an ace.
Are we paying attention? Lately, its been 2 tires or no tires (Harvick). 4 AIN’T always the way to go!
Nice job Bill, I’d like to see you in the top ten at AMS your home track. Keep your foot to the floor and show’em you still got it. Your perserverance is never ending. Go Bill Go!
The cars have to be handling good to take two tires. How often do we see cars take two tires and drop like a rock if the car really wasn’t handling? Clean air means alot but if you can’t get back to the throttle what good does two tires do? A wrecked race car? If the #21 crew gets funding and the pit crew working everyweek the pit stops will get better. I don’t think anyone likes for Bill to lose positions in the pits. He works his ass off gaining them spots on the track. Trying to pull off a 12.5 second stop on a limited schedule is alot to ask of a part time pit crew. How much are we expecting of this underfunded #21 and Bill? Bill can do the job but the team needs resources.
I think 22nd is respectable for amount of races Bill and the woods are running. You miss one race you are a month behind. There are other full time teams finishing worse. Bill and the woods are Racer`s Thats why they are out there. Its what they are. Racing a cup car is better than any drug out there. Good luck at alanta.
Bill did a good job! Let’s see ,how many full time teams finished behind him! Congrads to Chase and Casey.
Well, Bill Elliott’s chance to win another Cup race will suffer a major setback when Richard Petty Motorsports will make a “driver and sponsor announcement” Tuesday at 1:00pm/et, and sources say the team will announce … that Marcos Ambrose will drive the team’s #9 Fords next season, replacing Kasey Kahne. Stanley Tools - current sponsor of Elliott Sadler’s #19 Ford at RPM - will reportedly sponsor Ambrose’s 2011 effort.
How do you guys know WBR is underfunded? I mean, where do they post the numbers? I’m not saying the team ISN’T underfunded, I just don’t know. I would like to know how everyone else knows.
Wood Brothers hope to return to full-time in 2011: Wood Brothers Racing, a Ford nameplate for 60 years, will race part-time in Sprint Cup racing again in 2010 with an eye on returning to the full-time schedule soon, perhaps in 2011. Bill Elliott again will drive the Woods’ familiar #21, one of the most famous numbers in motorsports, in the 13 races the team plans to enter this season. Team co-owner Eddie Wood said additional races possibly will be added to the schedule if sponsor funding can be found. Motorcraft, Ford’s customer service division, again will sponsor the team. A new co-sponsor is Ford’s Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centers. Announcements were made during a Tuesday stop of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour near Charlotte, N.C. Although Wood said he wants to return to full-schedule racing, he said his team picks up benefits from its abbreviated schedule. “We do want to get back full-time, but we won’t do it until we can do it correctly. You won’t ever see us be a start-and-park car.” Elliott has raced with the Woods since 2007.(Ford Racing)(1-23-2010)
Well is sounds like to me thru this article that they are only getting funding for 12 races. What do you gather from this article?
Do we need to see more press?
Wood Brothers plan similar 2010 schedule: They still have four races this year—Kansas City on Oct. 4, Charlotte on Oct. 17, Texas on Nov. 8 and Homestead on Nov. 22—but the Wood brothers already are considering their 2010 plans. “We’d love to maintain our relationship with Bill Elliott and our sponsors, and run about the same number of races we’ve run this year,” team co-owner Eddie Wood said Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We’d consider it, but it would take a ton of sponsorship money before we tried to run the full schedule again. We’re really content with the way things have gone this year.” Because of sponsorship issues, the long-time Ford loyalists trimmed their schedule from 36 to 13 races this year. Elliott ran the first eight and David Gilliland was in the #21 Fusion this weekend. Elliott took himself from the car after breaking three ribs in a Wednesday afternoon dirt-bike accident.(Ford Racing)(9-7-2009)
Wood Brothers add a race: While the NASCAR Sprint Cup series began the second half of its 36-race season Saturday night, the race marked the sixth event of the season for the Wood Brothers and the #21 Ford Bill that Elliott drives. The team scaled back to a partial schedule this season because it was unable to find enough sponsorship to run the entire year. This marks the first time since 1984 the team hasn’t attempted to run a full Cup schedule. Eddie Wood, co-owner of the team, said that the team has added one race — the Charlotte fall race — giving it 13 for the year [plus the team ran the Sprint Showdown]. The team’s next race is Indianapolis in two weeks, and then the team will skip two races before returning to Michigan in mid-August. “It’s really working out for us,” Wood said. “Just like everybody else in here, we send out [sponsorship] proposals everyday. Literally. If something turns up to where we get another chunk of money, we’ll add races accordingly. But we won’t run races if we don’t have the money to support it and do it correctly.”(Roanoke Times)(7-14-2009)
Wood Brothers not loooking for investors: In this year of economic hardship and disappearing sponsors, #21-Wood Brothers is hunkering down. The team, which has won just one race in the past 15 seasons, will run just a third of the 2009 season. “Our plan is, unless something substantial comes, here’s our 12 and that’s what we’re going to do,” team co-owner Len Wood said. The team would rather run just 12 races with Bill Elliott than try to piece together a season by scrounging sponsorships on a race-by-race basis, he said. “If someone comes in and says `I’ll give you $100,000 to run this race,’ that’s not going to make money,” Wood said. The team has also rejected the idea of looking for outside investors with deep pockets. That just brings interference, Wood said. “When it comes to making a decision – do we need to buy this – we don’t have to go through a board of directors or anything like that,” he said. “It’s us. We don’t have to answer to anybody.” Instead, the Ford team is tightening its belt and finding ways to do more with less. “We have smaller groups than we had before,” Wood said. “I need a guy who can jack the car and be a mechanic. I need a guy who can be a fabricator and can also change tires. Instead of two people to do one job I need one guy to do two.” The team ran an entry in NASCAR’s truck series last year but that’s on the shelf in 2009. This season will only feature Elliott in the #21 with backing by Motorcraft. The advantage of using a veteran such as Elliott is being able to fall back on the provisional entry he is entitled to as a past NASCAR champion in order to qualify for a race. Elliott had to use only one champion’s provisional last year. This year using a provisional might be more difficult because other past champions will try to qualify for races and the one available provisional per race goes to the most recent champion who needs it. “People try to say that’s why we got him,” Wood said of Elliott and his provisional. “It probably started that way, but Bill Elliott is different. He can step up and get that car in if he needs to. We didn’t have very good cars the first of last year but (changes made) turned our program around. We’re just trying to get it back on track and get our performance back.” But soon that first race will come when Wood Brothers doesn’t make the trip. And, Wood said, “I’ll be sitting there watching just like a fan at home, but I won’t be liking it.”(Alabama Live)(2-10-2009)
Check out this link on sponsor dollars
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2009-11-17/nascar-teams-struggle-sustain-sponsorship-dollars
Bill – I have to be one of your biggest fans ever, and have been since i was 10 yrs old in 1980. As much as I love watching you race, this car’s (lack of) performance is getting painful. Please get a full-time, or competitive part-time ride! Your too good to ride around at the back a dozen times a year!!!!
I bet some of you folks were the ones whining about Bill thru the McDonalds years too. Not me. I stick with him thru thick and thin. Even with the Woods I stand behind Ol’ Wild Bill.
Sounds to me like the articles are saying that the Wood Bros were underfunded when they ran a full schedule and decided to only run the races where they would be fully funded.
“If something turns up to where we get another chunk of money, we’ll add races accordingly. But we won’t run races if we don’t have the money to support it and do it correctly.”
- Eddie Wood (from Yeah its Slick’s post above)
To me, that sounds like they won’t make plans to go to a race unless they have the funds for it. Isn’t that what he said?
I guess “under funded” can have many interpretations. If you are saying that the Wood Bros have less money per year than other teams, then I agree. That is why they are running a partial schedule. But, I don’t see anything in the articles that say they are under funded for the races they go to.
I think what is actually hurting the Wood Bros and Bill is just not running every week. Building chemistry between the driver and the crew chief, more reps for the crew members making pit stops, and just Bill staying as sharp as possible. Now, if you want to say that those things are caused by the fact that they are not funded to run an entire year, then I might agree. Right now, I still have no idea if they are truly “under funded” or not.
One more point – and this is the most important. The car they had at Michigan was very capable of running up front – with the right setup, air pressure, whatever. That is evidenced by the way they were running at the end. Bill was as fast as the leaders. Enough money was spent to make that car run at the front and all the money in the world wouldn’t have made it any faster at the beginning of the race. It was simply the wrong setup at the wrong time for most of the race.
I am not arguing with you because I truly don’t know. I’m just saying that those articles you posted – I have read EVERY single one of them (and everything else that relates to Bill and BER racing) – don’t prove that they were underfunded at Michigan. Eddie Wood isn’t making excuses so I won’t either. Let’s go win a d@mn race!
It take the following to win and run up front at a race
What You Need:
– Driving skill ( We have that)
– Lots of luck to avoid part failures and wrecks
– Smart crew chief to make the right calls
– Fast pit crew that can put on four tires and add fuel in 12.5 seconds
– Good sponsor to pay millions of dollars for your expenses
– Teammates – no single-car team has ever qualified for The Chase
Set ups consist of shocks, springs, wedge, tire camber, transmission and rearend gear ratios that all fit a drivers style. Some driver like a loose car and other like a tighter car.
Weight distribution is key
Adjusting front and rear braking is key
Keep the motors cool and finding the right amount of tape to put on the grill is key
Lots of variables
We all think that these cars are built equal set up the exact same way for each team but I beg to differ.
That’s why the crew chief is SO important. I think everyone who has watched more than 3 races knows that the driver can only do so much with an ill-handling race car. Heck, look at Jimmy Johnson the last few weeks. Mighty funny that when that car isn’t right, he is running way back in the pack. There is no magic. The driver contributes a lot and some are better than others, but no driver can work miracles if the car won’t roll through the turns or doesn’t have the hp down the straights.
I’m sorry but that effort on Sunday was awful! We spent what money we had to run 28-30th most of the race. There were lots of atrition to get that finish. We were getting passed by #77, #82,#83,#78, that’s supposed to be a good effort? Underfunded or fully funded what will change? When this car was fully funded it was junk. Guys 1 win in 18 years? To win a race Bill would have to be in a car with rousch or rpm. That will never happen, nobody will take a chance on Bill giving them a 1 year commitment.
Slick, I said lately. The last couple of races for sure. In years past, 4 always won out over 2 or 0. Not LATELY, however. These new tires combined with some new surfaces, last longer.
uhhh Willie, didn’t Bill finish ahead of Newman, Burton, J GORDON, Mark Martin, and Hornish.
All of those guys were running at the end and Bill beat them, plain and simple. And, what attrition. There were really no wrecked cars and the only blown motor I saw was K Busch.
Please tell us what attrition you are talking about. Also, were you paying attention at the end when Bill passed 6 cars in the final 20 laps?
I BELIEVE IN BILL ELLIOTT, HE CAN STILL WIN!
NOT WBR
WHO WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE DRIVE FOR YOU Ambrose OR AWESOME BILL??????????? RPM IS CRAZY! BILL ELLIOTT ANY DAY!!!!!!!
Yea. I can’t believe those morons at Ford didn’t insist on putting Bill in the 9 car again. Stupid decisions like this (and the desire to be just like Formula 1) is what is killing NASCAR. They need to quit talking to these marketing experts and go ask the fans.
Richard Petty, Gillete, Ford – all y’all can kiss my …!
oh, and stanley too!
I never heard that Bill wanted to go drive for RPM next year.I heard that he would drive full time if the Woodbrothers found full time sponsorship.A team or sponsor looking for a driver that overlooked Bill if he was availabe could not be very knowledgeable of the sport.
Awesome attrition is all the start and parks, the blown motors, #39, #24, #31, #5 were all way better than the #21 on Sunday. They experienced problems to have there poor finishes. #24 and #31? we are not in there league, bill is, woods not so much! Don’t hold on to a 22nd place finish like it ment something. That’s what I hate the most about thus entire deal, fans are happy with this. O well we ran laps as fast as the leaders at the end. Who cares, we weren’t even close to the front, how about the other 150 laps? NOT HIGH STANDARDS! This car is so inconsistent. Pit crew is also. How will we ever win like this? I want bill to run well more than anyone, but it’s rough to watch, when my expectations are higher than what I am seeing.
If Bill wants to still race, how about truck series? Might be really competitive there, easier to get decent ride. We won’t get a good car in cup series, I just hate this for Bill, he is a great man and my hero. Always rooting for you Bill!
I listened to the in car..the second to last pit stop Bill suggested a change,Hyder said he wasn’t sure, so Hyder put his set up in..On the last caution Bill told Hyder the car was better before and to change it back.Hyder was gonna leave him out for track position..so Bill came in and low and behold passing cars within the last 20 laps….Sometimes crew chief should listen to the driver..especially Bill!!!
Sometimes crew chief should listen to the driver..especially Bill!!! amen Bgamerz91
You know, there is still room at RPM. Sadler 95% gone. WBR could still merge. If they get their egos out of the way. Or Bill could go to RPM without WBR. If he wants to. It doesn’t have to be Ambrose instead of Bill. Could be Ambrose with Bill (and AJ). Also, Menard is gone with Daddy’s money. But, the owner points are still sitting there. If WBR doesn’t want to merge they could acquire the owner points. As always, need money. Just a few thoughts. Don’t tell RPM to kiss anything. Never burn a bridge. Chase is a comin’! And look at Jamie Mac. Did not burn the bridge and won the 2 biggest races on the schedule!
I tell ya fellowers,
I am very Disappointed in ford! There wouldn’t be a bigger story than Bill Elliott going back to victory lane with a single car team. There wouldn’t be no better way to get Ford winning races again than to have a Ford sponsored car with the most popular driver ever driving it. If you don’t thing Bill sold a ton of Tbirds than you’re crazy and delusional! I know my dad bought one in 85. So how many Fusions do you think he can sale. How about Carl Edwards wrecking Brad like that! If I was aflack I would drop him like a hot potato. One thing for sure, you will NEVER get that from Bill Elliott. Bill is nothing but CLASS. I don’t know why Bill doesn’t drive a truck race ever now and thin. I remember he drove in one truck race one time and all most one the thing! It was white and blue ford I think.
Willie, no ‘start and park’ started ahead of Bill. Not one position Bill gained was from a start and park. And, as I stated before, the only blown motor was Kurt Busch.
Please give specific car numbers of cars that started ahead of Bill and finished behind Bill because of a wreck or blown engine. I’ll start – the 2 car, Kurt Busch. Who else? Newman spun but he was ahead of Bill until about 7 laps to go when Bill passed him.
Sure, I want Bill to run up front, but hell, at least we get to see him run. I don’t even watch the races when he doesn’t race.
hey bgamerz91,
how did you listen to Bill’s radio?
The #87 started ahead of Bill. #24 and #11 started behind Bill as did the #82 and #83. They all passed us multiple times. You make no sense. My point is this car can not win, let’s go truck series. Bill started 30th and finished 22nd. I am not going to explain anymore. If ur happy with that, great! I am not. I got to watch a bad car get passed by other bad cars. Super fun Sunday!!!
Well dude (Willlie). All I can say is, don’t watch!
Bill gained 8 spots and 2 of them were a result of the 87 quitting and the 2 blowing an engine. Guys in the chase passed him and he passed a lot of full time cars. I enjoyed it. That’s good enough for me. If he had finished 27th and only netted passing 1 car, I would have felt the same way.
It appears that all of the Ford teams including the Woods Bros have the same equipment.
My feeling is, that if you only run twelve races it’s really difficult to get anything consistant going. That said, i feel for just running a limited schedule the 21 team is a top 25 team. Naturally the points don’t reflect the effort because they only run 12 races.
I think if they ran all the races The Woods Bros would be a top 25 team ,with Bill driving,naturally. Do I think they can win a race as a single car team in these times with all the big teams having four cars and Sattelite cars.. No.
But i still am a huge Bill Elliott fan and go to Chicagoland Speedway and MIS just to see Bill run. Just being able to qualify without champ provisionals and run top 20 and 25s says a lot to me.
There are alot of multi car teams that haven’t won in a while, and I noticed some of them finished behind Bill and the Woods. So go get em Bill. You never know how a race will turn out unless you actually go run the race.
Go BILL and Go Woods !!!!!! Hotlanta !!!! Goin Home Boys !!!!
You can listen to Bill’s radio if you have a Sprint phone..It’s free with my plan..
Thanks Bgamerz91,
Hey,Maybe you could do the twitting for WBR! Then I would know what Bill was saying about the car. If Bill gose full time next year I will have to get me a sprint phone!