Elliott Racing

{{Short description|Former NASCAR team}}

{{Short description|Former NASCAR team}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox former NASCAR team

{{Infobox NASCAR team

| name = Elliott Racing

| name = Elliott Racing

| logo =

| owners = George Elliott

| base = [[Dawsonville, Georgia]]

| former_names = Elliott Racing

| owners = George Elliott

| series = [[Winston Cup]]

| series = [[Winston Cup]]

| drivers = {{ubl|[[Bill Elliott]]|[[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]]|[[Al Holbert]]}}

| wins = 0

| drivers_champ = 0

| numbers = 9, 17, 52

| manufacturer = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]], [[Oldsmobile]]

| manufacturer = [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]], [[Oldsmobile]]

| opened = 1966

| drivers = [[Bill Elliott]], [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]], [[Al Holbert]]

| sponsors =

| closed = 1981

| debut = [[1966 NASCAR Grand National Series|1966]] [[American 500]] ([[North Carolina Speedway]])

| base = [[Dawsonville, Georgia]]

| debut = [[1966 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1966]] [[American 500]] ([[North Carolina Speedway]])

| final = [[1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1981]] [[Atlanta Journal 500]] ([[Atlanta Motor Speedway]])

| final = [[1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1981]] [[Atlanta Journal 500]] ([[Atlanta Motor Speedway]])

| opened = [[1966 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1966]]

| races = 68

| drivers_champ = 0

| closed = [[1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|1981]]

| wins = 0

| poles = 1

}}

}}

'''Elliott Racing''' is a former [[NASCAR]] [[Winston Cup Series]] race team owned by George Elliott, father of [[Bill Elliott]]. The team was founded in 1966, and the organization was closed after [[Harry Melling (NASCAR)|Harry Melling]] bought the team from George Elliott.

'''Elliott Racing''' is a former [[NASCAR]] [[Winston Cup Series]] race team owned by George Elliott, father of [[Bill Elliott]]. The team was founded in 1966, and the organization was closed after [[Harry Melling (NASCAR)|Harry Melling]] bought the team from George Elliott.

In 1979 Elliott Racing attempted 11 races (nine races in the No. 9 and two races in the No. 17). Bill Elliott drove 14 races, nine in the No. 9 (Daytona 500, Atlanta 500, CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Winston 500, World 600, Gabriel 400, Firecracker 400, Talladega 500, and NAPA National 500), and two races in the No. 17 as an alliance between Elliott Racing and Hamby Racing (Elliott ran three races with Hamby Racing, also in the No. 17).

In 1979 Elliott Racing attempted 11 races (nine races in the No. 9 and two races in the No. 17). Bill Elliott drove 14 races, nine in the No. 9 (Daytona 500, Atlanta 500, CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Winston 500, World 600, Gabriel 400, Firecracker 400, Talladega 500, and NAPA National 500), and two races in the No. 17 as an alliance between Elliott Racing and Hamby Racing (Elliott ran three races with Hamby Racing, also in the No. 17).

In 1980 Elliott Racing ran eleven races. Bill Elliott ran all eleven races (Daytona 500, Atlanta 500, Winston 500, World 600, Gabriel 400, Firecracker 400, Talladega 500, Champion Spark Plug 400, Southern 500, National 500 and Atlanta Journal 500). In the fall of 1980, Elliott Racing gained its first major sponsor in the form of $500 from [[Harry Melling (NASCAR owner)|Harry Melling]] in the 1980 National 500 at Charlotte. Melling would extend his contract and gave the team enough sponsorship to run a 12 race schedule in 1981.

In 1980 Elliott Racing ran eleven races. Bill Elliott ran all eleven races (Daytona 500, Atlanta 500, Winston 500, World 600, Gabriel 400, Firecracker 400, Talladega 500, Champion Spark Plug 400, Southern 500, National 500 and Atlanta Journal 500). In the fall of 1980, Elliott Racing gained its first major sponsor in the form of $500 from [[Harry Melling (NASCAR owner)|Harry Melling]] in the 1980 National 500 at Charlotte. Melling would extend his contract and gave the team enough sponsorship to run a 12 race schedule in 1981.

In 1981 Elliott Racing ran twelve races. Bill Elliott ran all twelve races (Daytona 500, Cola Cola 500, CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Winston 500, World 600, Gabriel 400, Firecracker 400, Talladega 500, Champion Spark Plug 400, Southern 500, National 500, American 500 and Atlanta Journal 500).

In 1981 Elliott Racing ran twelve races. Bill Elliott ran all twelve races (Daytona 500, Cola Cola 500, CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Winston 500, World 600, Gabriel 400, Firecracker 400, Talladega 500, Champion Spark Plug 400, Southern 500, National 500, American 500 and Atlanta Journal 500).

After a 1981 season that consisted of one top-5 and seven top-10 finishes in 13 races, including the team's first pole in the CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Harry Melling bought the team from George Elliott on December 1, 1981. Melling first became involved in NASCAR when his company [[Melling Tool]] sponsored [[Benny Parsons]] in 1979.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.webgolfer.com/july99/h_melling.html|author=Moore,Terry|title=Harry Melling: 1945-1999|publisher=Michigan Golfer|access-date=2016-03-10|archive-date=2007-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622200334/http://webgolfer.com/july99/h_melling.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After a 1981 season that consisted of one top-5 and seven top-10 finishes in 13 races, including the team's first pole in the CRC Chemicals Rebel 500, Harry Melling bought the team from George Elliott on December 1, 1981. Melling first became involved in NASCAR when his company '''Melling Tool''' sponsored [[Benny Parsons]] in 1979.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.webgolfer.com/july99/h_melling.html|author=Moore,Terry|title=Harry Melling: 1945-1999|publisher=Michigan Golfer|access-date=2016-03-10|archive-date=2007-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622200334/http://webgolfer.com/july99/h_melling.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Secondary Car History===

===Secondary Car History===

Elliott Racing ran a second car under a variety of numbers. It began as the No. 53 when George Elliott entered [[Don Tilley]] at the [[1966 American 500]] but retired with steering failure.

Elliott Racing ran a second car under a variety of numbers. It began as the No. 53 when George Elliott entered [[Don Tilley]] at the [[1966 American 500]] but retired with steering failure.

The team didn't reappear until the [[1971 Talladega 500]] as the No. 94 and entered [[Harry Gailey]] finishing forty seven laps down.

The team didn't reappear until the 1971 Talladega 500 as the No. 94 and entered Harry Gailey finishing forty seven laps down.

In 1973 the team reappeared as the 09 for [[Charles Barrett (racing driver)|Charles Barrett]] to drive for four races (Atlanta 500, Dixie 500, Winston 500, World 600). [[Jody Ridley]] drove the No. 09 for the American 500.

In 1973 the team reappeared as the 09 for Charles Barrett to drive for four races (Atlanta 500, Dixie 500, Winston 500, World 600). [[Jody Ridley]] drove the No. 09 for the American 500.

In 1974 the 09 returned at the [[1974 Talladega 500]] for [[A.J. Reno]] but retired with steering failure.

In 1974 the 09 returned at the 1974 Talladega 500 for A.J. Reno but retired with steering failure.

The team returned as the No. 52 because of a contractual reason for the 1977 Southern 500 with Bill Elliott driving.

The team returned as the No. 52 because of a contractual reason for the 1977 Southern 500 with Bill Elliott driving.

== Driver history ==

== Driver history ==

* [[Don Tilley]] (1966)

* [[Don Tilley]] (1966)

* [[Harry Gailey]] (1971)

* Harry Gailey (1971)

* [[Charles Barrett (racing driver)|Charles Barrett]] (1973)

* Charles Barrett (1973)

* [[Jody Ridley]] (1973)

* [[Jody Ridley]] (1973)

* [[A.J. Reno]] (1974)

* A.J. Reno (1974)

* [[Bill Elliott]] (1976–1981)

* [[Bill Elliott]] (1976–1981)

* [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] (1976)

* [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] (1976)