WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – In a shocking announcement Saturday evening, NASCAR Xfinity Series powerhouse GMS Racing announced that NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott will pilot the team’s No. 23 Chevrolet in the upcoming race at Road America (Wisc.) on Aug. 25.
Elliott, 62, made his most recent NASCAR start in 2012 for Turner Motorsports in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
The 44-time Cup winner last made an Xfinity Series start in 2005 at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park driving for Ray Evernham. The Dawsonville, Ga. native has no starts at the Wisc. road course.
“When this opportunity came up from Mike (Beam), I had to jump on it,” Elliott said in a statement. “Chase (Elliott) has ran a handful of races for the team so I figured I would give it a shot at Road America.
“Beam and I have worked together in the past, so it will be exciting to get back behind the wheel and bring back some old memories.”
Elliott’s son, Chase Elliott, 22, has made four starts with Statesville, N.C.-based GMS this season with a best effort of second at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June.
Bill Elliott has one win in 43 Xfinity starts coming on the road course at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in 1993 driving for car owner Charles Hardy. In addition to the win, he has eight top-five, 16 top-10 finishes and two poles.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bill (Elliott) to the GMS Racing family,” offered Beam, president of GMS Racing. “Bill has many years in NASCAR and it’s going to be great to watch him come back, especially in GMS equipment.
“Bill and I worked together back in the day and had a lot of success so hopefully we can pick up where we left off and create some more great memories.”
Beam formerly served as team manager at Bill Elliott Racing and had worked several seasons as a crew chief for Elliott in the Cup Series in 1990 and again from 1993 through the 1997 season.
Chase Elliott said Saturday at WGI he hopes to be able to attend Road America, since it’s an off weekend for Cup and cheer on his father’s NASCAR return.
“Yeah, I definitely want to go. It’s going to be exciting,” said Elliott, the 2014 Xfinity Series champion. “I know he’s excited about it. He just needs to go have fun and I think he will.
“He hasn’t forgotten how to drive. So, I think that he will have fun with it and that is the main thing, go and enjoy it and have a chance to get racing again.”
The news caught Cup Series veteran Kyle Busch off-guard following qualifying for Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen.
“How old is he? That’s cool,” Busch said. “Good for him. That will be a unique experience.”
ISM Connect, a pioneer in smart venue technology will support Elliott’s efforts at the 4.048-mile course.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
