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William Clyde Elliott Sr., popularly known as Bill Elliott, is a former NASCAR Cup Series driver. A Winston Cup Series champion, and a two-time Daytona 500 winner, Elliott Sr. retired from full-time Cup Series racing at the end of 2003.
A NASCAR Hall of Famer, Bill Elliott is the father of current Hendrick Motorsports driver, Chase Elliott. A renowned name in the sport, Elliott Sr. has multiple accolades to his name. In today's article, we amassed five facts about the "Awesome Bill From Dawsonville."
#5 Winner of first-ever Winston Million
In 1985, Bill Elliott won the prestigious Winston-Million honor. It is an honor given to any driver who wins three out of four crown jewel races in NASCAR — The Daytona 500 at Daytona, The Winston 500 at Talladega, The World 600 at Charlotte, and The Southern 500 at Darlington.
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The winner of the honor receives a million-dollar prize money. As Elliott Sr. won the three races, the Daytona 500, the Winston 500, and the Southern 500 that year, he claimed the honor. Thanks to it, he also received the nickname, "Million Dollar Bill."
#4 Third Father-Son duo to Win NASCAR Championship
In 2020, Bill Elliott's son Chase Elliott claimed the NASCAR Cup Series championship. With this, he and Elliott Sr. became the third Father-Son duo to win NASCAR championships.
Elliot Sr. won the title in 1988. It was started by Lee Petty and his son, Richard Petty, as the first-ever Father-Son duo. They were followed by Ned Jarrett and his son Dale Jarrett.
#3 Raced in NASCAR for 37 Years
Bill Elliott's NASCAR Cup Series career is one of the longest in the sport's history. He joined the top tier of stock car racing in 1976 (Carolina 500 at Rockingham), and raced his last in 2012 (Coke Zero 400 at Daytona)
He racked up a total of 828 races in over 37 years, where he claimed 44 race wins, 55 pole positions, and 320 Top 10s. His first win arrived in 1983 at the Winston Western 500 at Riverside, and his final win in 2003 and Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at Rockingham.
#2 Declared one of 'NASCAR's Greatest 50 Drivers'
In 1998, NASCAR gathered a panel to select the Greatest 50 drivers in NASCAR as a part of their 50th anniversary. The move was inspired by the NBA's decision to select the sport's 50 Greatest Players.
The panel consisted of 51 individuals who represented various NASCAR roles. Bill Elliott, thanks to his illustrious NASCAR career, made it to the top 50 list. In 2023, NASCAR increased the list from 50 Greatest Drivers to 75 Greatest Drivers as a part of their 75th Anniversary celebration.
#1 16-time winner of Most Popular Driver Award
Bill Elliott is the most successful driver in NASCAR when it comes to the Most Popular Driver Award. The former driver from Dawsonville won the honor consecutively from 1984 to 1988, and then from 1991 to 2000, and then again in 2002.
After winning it a record 16 times, Elliott withdrew his name from the ballot. Thanks to his accolades, the Georgia State Legislature declared October 8 (the date of his birth) as Bill Elliott Day in the state of Georgia in 2005.
