ELLIOTT TO DRIVE FOR JOHNSON

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 3, 1992                   TAG: 9201030097
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ATLANTA                                LENGTH: Short
ELLIOTT TO DRIVE FOR JOHNSON
Bill Elliott, 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup champion, has signed a three-year contract to drive Junior Johnson's Budweiser Ford Thunderbirds beginning with the 1992 season in February, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., officials said Thursday.
"Junior approached me a number of years ago to come drive for him, but the circumstances never did work out," said Elliott, of Dawsonville, Ga. "This time things worked out."
In 1985, Elliott won a record 11 superspeedway races and became NASCAR's first winner of the Winston Million.
Johnson's teams have won six Winston Cup championships and more than $14 million.
"With Bill Elliott, we're going right back to where we belong - running up front again," said Johnson at a news conference at the Atlanta Exposition Center. "There's no better driver in Winston Cup racing."
Elliott's first race for Johnson will be the Feb. 8 Busch Clash at Daytona Beach, Fla. On Feb. 16, he will drive at the Daytona 500, which he has won twice.
It also was announced that Budweiser will sponsor Elliott's Ford Thunderbird in 12 NASCAR Busch Grand National races this year.
Entering his 10th full Winston Cup season, Elliott has started 348 races, won 34 and finished in the top five 118 times. He has won 41 pole positions and nearly $11 million in purse money.
In April 1987, he drove the fastest qualifying lap in NASCAR history, 212.809 mph at Talladega, Ala.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB