“One bad ass looking ride”: Fans react as NASCAR posts iconic Bill Elliott look from 1995

Fans recently reacted to the famous "Thunderbat" paint scheme that featured on NASCAR veteran Bill Elliott’s car, which debuted in the 1995 Coca-Cola 600. It was part of a month-long, promotional campaign spearheaded by McDonald’s, Elliott’s then-sponsor.

McDonald’s set out with the aim of popularizing the movie “Batman Forever”, where Top Gun star, Val Kilmer, played the titular role. As per a 2020 story by Tom Jensen of FOX Sports, the American fast-food chain called it “one of the largest and most diverse international movie marketing programs ever undertaken by the company."

NASCAR Classics, famous for its library of more than a thousand free-to-watch NASCAR races, remembered Bill Elliott’s ride from almost three decades ago. They posted a photo of the veteran racer alongside his famous Ford Thunderbird.

“Bill Elliott 🤝 Batman. @CLTMotorSpdwy | 1995,” posted NASCAR Classics on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Several fans reacted to the iconic skin, with one writing,

“That was one bad ass looking ride.”

Mentioning Elliot’s son and 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, another fan commented,

“One of the most beautiful race cars of all time.This paint scheme needs to be brought back at @TooToughToTame this year. @chaseelliott , thoughts?”

Here are a few other reactions to NASCAR Classics’ shout out to the 16-time winner of the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award. His son, Elliott Jr. won the title seven times in a row, which includes 2024 as well.

“Thunderbat! Oh that’s awesome,” a fan wrote.

"Love the Thunderbat," another commented.

“Iconic Paint Scheme ,” wrote another.

Someone even wrote,

“The Thunderbird was one of the sharpest bodies in a Cup car.”

Notably, the day Bill Elliott drove the car for the first time at Charlotte Motor Speedway was just a week after the great Dale Earnhardt debuted with his famous silver Goodwrench-backed Richard Childress Racing Chevy at the 1.5-mile, quad-oval.

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Remembering Bill Elliott’s NASCAR return, ft. Tony Stewart’s brainchild

Bill Elliott formally retired back in 2003, after finishing the season with five top-5s and 16th on points. However, in 2022, the 1988 Cup Series champ ran two races at Five Flags Speedway and Stafford Motor Speedway. The races were held under the banner of the Superstar Racing Experience, also known as SRX.

The SRX was a stock car racing series owned by the three-time Cup Series champion and current NHRA drag racer, Tony Stewart. SRX ran six races each season for three years, crowning drivers like Marco Andretti and Stewart himself, as winners. Due to unfavorable market conditions, the series suspended its 2024 season.

Elliott was one of the drivers that raced during SRX’s maiden year of operation. He won the first heat race but finished third in the main event. The win was bagged by another Elliott, his son Chase, who currently drives for Hendrick Motorsports.