May 9, 2007

Left to Right: John King, John King II and NASCAR champion Bill Elliott Wednesday night at Volunteer Speedway. Photo by official Volunteer Speedway photographer Randall Perry.

Former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott gets behind the wheel at Volunteer Speedway, offers advice to teenager John King Jr.

By Robert Walden BULLS GAP, Tenn. (May 9) – Bill Elliott is one of the all-time greatest NASCAR drivers. From 1976 through the 2006 racing season he fashioned a very impressive resume, capturing the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship, while also finishing runner-up in the point standings on three occasions (1985, 1988 and 1992). Overall he finished top-10 in points 14 times. Along the way he became a fixture in victory lane, winning 44 races including the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway in 1985 and ’87, and the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2002. Atlanta, Charlotte, Darlington, Talladega, Michigan – Elliott also won at those tracks. While the 51-year-old driver’s NASCAR career may be winding down, by no means is Elliott through racing. Over the past few years he’s gone back to his racing roots – getting behind the wheel of his dirt Late Model. Wednesday night Elliott was at Volunteer Speedway with his dirt racing partner Ray Cook, both running laps in their MasterSbilt-chassied Late Models. Also in the pits with Elliott was his longtime friend John King Sr. of Kingsport, Tenn., owner of Fairway Ford and his son John King Jr., who’s following in the footsteps of his racing hero Elliott. “I could stay here and drive this dirt Late Model all night long,” said Elliott with a smile on his face after climbing from his car in the pits after running some laps. “This is what racing’s all about – enjoying what you’re doing. I don’t really get to run my dirt car as much as I’d like, but it’s something that I’m going to have to work on. Racing on dirt today in these Late Models compared to when I first began racing on the Georgia clay back many years ago, there’s just no comparison. “Getting to come to the track with Ray (Cook) and also getting to spend some time with my good friend John King Sr. and his son, I’m having a blast. Ray is so good running these dirt Late Models and I really learn a lot from him when he’s at the track with me. It’s also quite exciting getting to see young John drive, because I’m really impressed with how he’s running. He’s really focused on racing, and that’s what it takes if you want to possibly make a career in the sport. You’ve got to dedicate yourself. I’ve told him and his dad both, race all you can. There’s just no substitute for experience racing on the track. Run all the laps you can.” The 2007 racing season marks the third season of racing for the 19-year-old King Jr., who competes in the Crate Late Model division. With seat-time the youngster has become more comfortable behind the wheel, and it showed just two weeks ago when he recorded a very impressive fourth-place finish in the Fastrak Late Model Racing Series event at Volunteer Speedway. “That was an awesome race for us,” said King Jr. “The field of cars present for the Fastrak race was very competitive, and to finish in the top-five was a great run for us. Driving these dirt Late Models is tougher than what some people might think, it just takes running a lot of laps to really get comfortable. I can really tell a big difference this year over last year about how I feel in the car. Sure, I’m competitive and want to win races. We’re running pretty well right now, and really that’s all I could ask for. Consistency, that’s what it takes right there to run up front and win races – you’ve got to be consistent and run lap-after-lap the same. “My dad has been friends with Bill (Elliott) for many years, and growing up watching him race just kind of fueled the fire in me to want to drive a race car. Bill’s been good to offer advice, and hey, with all he’s accomplished in his racing career – I just try to absorb all I can. I’ve also got a good car, and Tony Ford at TNT Race Cars has helped me out a bunch. Just tonight here at the track, Ray Cook’s been a big help, too. He’s very knowledgeable of these dirt Late Models, and he’s helped us get our car dialed-in and it’s driving real well.” Receiving tutelage from NASCAR legend Elliott and from Cook, King Sr. feels the racing education his son is getting will help expedite the boy’s learning curve in the sport. “A 19-year-old aspiring racer getting advice from Bill Elliott, who better to learn from,” said King Sr. “Bill and I have been friends for a longtime, and before I decided to get started in racing with my son Bill and I talked about it at length. John Jr. wants to race, and that’s the main thing. I can’t put pressure on him to race. If he’s not doing it because he wants to, then we’re just wasting our time. Getting to spend good quality time at the racetrack with my son, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. “As long as what we’re doing is what he wants to do, then I’ll do all I can to help him along the way. Where our racing path will lead us, who knows? Besides running our dirt Late Model right now, down the line we’ll also be getting John Jr. in an asphalt car some. Exactly when, I don’t know. But I really feel driving on dirt and learning good car control is immeasurable for him at the present time.” With the racing season just in early May, many more nights at the track are in store for King Jr. and his dad in 2007 at Volunteer Speedway. As for Elliott, he will be racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in a couple of weeks. After turning laps in his dirt Late Model at “The Gap,” is a possible night of racing on the high-banks in the future for Elliott? “I don’t really know when, but I do hope to get up here to race this year,” said Elliott. “With Ray (Cook) promoting his Summer Nationals events around the southeast this summer, and with Volunteer Speedway hosting a show, it would be great if things worked out so I could run Ray’s race up here. I came up here back a few years ago and practiced one day, and also came back for a race during the Bristol spring NASCAR race weekend. I like this track. It’s fun to drive. “Even though I don’t have a full-time NASCAR ride, I’m still involved in the sport and I have obligations that take my time over there. I’ve enjoyed all I’ve gotten to do over the years racing, but the sport has definitely changed over the last five or so years. We’ve won races and won a championship, and the fans have really supported me through my career. I couldn’t have asked for more.” With several checkered flags behind Elliott in his illustrious racing career, the future also looks very bright for King Jr. With the youngster’s determination to make a career in big-time auto racing and, with his dad by his side – chances are several trips to victory lane are in store for King Jr. After all, he’s learning from one of the all-time best in Elliott. The advice from a champion in the sport like Elliott will no doubt help King Jr. to succeed.