Sprint Cup Series — Bill Elliott on the “New and Improved” Darlington Raceway
By Bram • May 8th, 2008 • Category: NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series, Your Series. Your Driver.
BILL ELLIOTT – No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion – YOU’VE BEEN COMING HERE A LONG TIME. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS NEW PAVEMENT?
“It’s not the same Darlington. It’s gonna be a little bit harder to race on it because everybody seems to be running closer to the same speed. The new car has probably made that a lot more apparent, but the cars aren’t gonna give up as much and the times are not gonna slow down as much. It’s just different.”
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS AFTER RUNNING A LAP OR TWO OUT THERE?
“I was just thinking that I had to get my act together and get back in the groove because I haven’t been here since 2003.”
WE’VE HEARD ABOUT THE TRACK BEING A CHEESE GRATER ON TIRES BEFORE AND NOW THERE’S A LOT OF GRIP.
“There’s a lot of grip and that’s one of the pluses and minuses of new pavement. You’ve got a lot of grip until it finally gives up and when it does give up it’s pretty big, but it’s still typical Darlington. I still say you’ve got to race the race track and I still say that’s the way it’s gonna be come Saturday night.”
HAS IT LOST ANY CHARM?
“I’ll get back to you on that.”
