A SHORT BIO
	Height:	6'1"
	Weight:	185 lbs
	Birth Date:	10/8/55
	Birthplace:	Cumming, GA
	Residence:	Blairsville, GA
	Wife:	Cindy
	Children:	Starr, Brittany, & Chase
	Hereos:	David Pearson, Jody Ridley
	Hobbies:	Snow skiing, flying and bulldozing
	Personal Vehicle:	Ford Mustang
	Nicknames:	Million Dollar Bill, Awesome Bill from Dawsonville

Bill Elliott was the youngest of three sons born to George and Mildred Elliott of Dawsonville, Georgia. George Elliott owned a home supply center and dabbled with auto racing. In fact he first owned a Grand National car in 1966, driven by Don Tilley at the fall race in Rockingham. Tilley finished 42nd in field of 44 cars after suffering steering problems.

Growing up Bill and his older brothers, Ernie and Dan, started working at the family business at an early age, and perhaps that is one of the reasons Bill still prefers to own his own team rather than work for someone else. By his early teens Bill was driving delivery trucks throughout the twisting roads of Northern Georgia, at rates of speed he smiles and says he would rather not discuss these days. The racing bug had already bitten. Bill and his brothers began in racing selling parts out of a truck to racers at tracks in the area. Ernie would eventually start his own engine business, while Bill specialized in building chassis and setting up suspensions. He also did a little racing and on September 7th, 1974 Bill won his first sportsman race at the Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia. More victories soon followed and the family saw Bill's talents as a God given gift that they should help him develop.

Elliott's first career Winston Cup start was Feb. 29, 1976 at the Carolina 500 in Rockingham, N.C. He started 34th and finished 33rd. His first win (117th start) was on a road course - Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway, Nov. 20, 1983. His first pole (56th start) was at the Rebel 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on April 12, 1981.

Bill Elliott celebrated 25 years driving in the prestigious NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 2000. It was Elliott's sixth season behind the wheel of the McDonald's Ford. He raced on a part-time basis from 1976 - 82. His first full season was in 1983.

Entering the 2000 season, Elliott had 40 career Winston Cup victories, 49 career pole positions and career earnings of $21,107,334. He was tied for 14th (with the late Tim Flock) overall in career wins, fourth overall for career poles and seventh overall for career earnings.

Elliott has won the famed Daytona 500 twice, 1985 and 1987. He won both races from the pole. He also has won two of NASCAR's prestigious, non-points races, the Busch Clash in 1987 and The Winston in 1986.

Elliott won the Most Popular Driver Award in 2000 for a record 15th time. Except for 1989 and 1990, Elliott has won the award every year since 1984. The award is voted by the fans in a contest conducted by the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA).

Elliott started his 600th career Winston Cup race at the Diehard 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 16, 2000. He is one of 19 drivers to have more than 500 career starts, reaching that milestone on April 13, 1997 at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Elliott set the fastest qualifying speed in Winston Cup history with a lap of 212.809 mph at Talladega (Ala.) during the1987 Winston 500.

Elliott was the 1988 Winston Cup Champion. He is only one of three Ford drivers (Dale Jarrett, Alan Kulwicki) to win the championship since 1969. Elliott finished second in the point standings three times - 1985, 1987 and 1992. He lost the series championship to Kulwicki by 10 points in 1992, the narrowest winning margin in Winston Cup history.

Since he started to run a full season schedule in 1983, Elliott has finished in the top 10 every year except 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

In 1996 Elliott missed seven races due to an injury (fractured left thighbone) he suffered in a crash in the Winston 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

Elliott was the first driver to win The Winston Million, a $1 million bonus from R.J. Reynolds for winning three of four major superspeedway races in a single season. He accomplished this feat in 1985 (the inaugural year of The Winston Million program) with victories at the Daytona 500, Winston 500 (Talladega, Ala.) and the Southern 500 (Darlington, S.C.).

Along with winning the Winston Million, Elliott's 1985 banner year also included a Winston Cup season record of 11 superspeedway wins. For his achievements in 1985, Elliott was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. His two nicknames: "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" and "Million Dollar Bill" also came as a result of his record-setting 1985 season.

Elliott was named the "American Driver of the Year" in 1985 and 1987 by the nation's motorsports media.

Prior to his first race on the Winston Cup circuit, Elliott raced on the Georgia short tracks with his brothers, Ernie and Dan.

Elliott's hobbies include snow skiing and flying his personal aircraft. He has a multi-engine instrument-rated and helicopter-rated pilot's license.