NASCAR Xfinity Series: Bill Elliott – Road America expectations
By Mark Kristl
Bill Elliott is set to drive the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in the 2018 Johnsonville 180. Here are realistic expectations for his first NASCAR race in six years.
Located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Road America has hosted one NASCAR Xfinity Series race per season since 2010. The 4.048-mile road course is set to host the 2018 Johnsonville 180 tomorrow.
Competing in that race will be 2015 NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott. Elliott is set to drive the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in the 45-lap event. With all the excitement surrounding his return, what can we expect in his debut at the road course?
There is a ton of hype surrounding Elliott because of the fact that he is returning to NASCAR to compete in this race. On Tuesday, August 14, GMS Racing unveiled his paint scheme for it. It is a throwback to his winning car in the 1994 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Bill Elliott’s Road America car for @GMSRacingLLC @NASCARHall @NASCAR_Xfinity pic.twitter.com/D4X4ZlFzqF
— Tom Jensen (@tomjensen100) August 14, 2018
But even if Elliott does not win the race, the excitement surrounding his return to NASCAR is great for the sport. Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted his excitement upon hearing that Elliott would be competing in this race.
I can’t believe Bill Elliott is going to run a @NASCAR_Xfinity race. Like Bill just been waiting on someone to ask him.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) August 5, 2018
First of all, I do not expect Elliott to win the Johnsonville 180. He is 62 years old. He last competed in a NASCAR race in the 2012 Coke Zero 400. His last NASCAR victory came in the 2003 Pop-Secret Microwave Popcorn 400.
More from Xfinity Series
- NASCAR: Two new drivers linked to Joe Gibbs Racing
- NASCAR: Frankie Muniz linked to surprise landing spot
- NASCAR: How a sudden downfall inadvertently created a champion
- NASCAR: Kaulig driver linked to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2024
- NASCAR: Another top prospect leaves Toyota for 2024
None of the drivers in the top 30 in the Xfinity Series championship standings are 60 years or older. At 62 years old, many people are looking forward to retirement. Instead, Elliott is returning to the Xfinity Series for one final NASCAR race.
Few sports have athletes competing at ages above 40 years old. NASCAR is one of the few sports that features drivers competing past age 40. The reason most athletes retire by age 40 is that their reflexes are slower. Road America has 14 turns. The average speed at the track in the 2017 Johnsonville 180 was 82.250 mph. Racing at the track is not an easy task. Elliott will have his hands full for all 45 laps, and his slower reflexes will prevent him from winning the race.
Another challenge that Elliott will face is his lack of experience at Road America. He has never competed at the track. Humorously, despite being a NASCAR Hall of Fame member, he will be required to attend the rookie meeting.
NASCAR says Bill Elliott will attend the rookie meeting at Road America because he's never been there. Wonder if they'll give him an extra set of tires. #nascar
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 5, 2018
Road America is set to host the 23rd race of the 33-race 2018 Xfinity Series season. But before the Xfinity Series playoffs begin, there are only four races remaining. Only three drivers have clinched playoff berths. For drivers below the playoff cut line, every race matters. As a result, their levels of intensity are higher.
While Elliott will be racing only once this season, the rest of the field will be competing for a championship. Once the green flag flies, he will be just one of the 40 drivers competing in the race.
Elliott won the 1988 Cup Series championship. He has 44 career Cup Series wins and one career Xfinity Series win to his name. He can certainly wheel the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet to a good finish at Road America.
Realistically, where will Elliott finish? The #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet has significantly improved this Xfinity Series season. A good indicator of where he might finish is where the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet currently sits in the owner point standings, which is 10th place.
The Xfinity Series season highlight for GMS Racing occurred when Spencer Gallagher earned his first career Xfinity Series victory at Talladega, which was also the first career Xfinity Series victory for GMS Racing. Unfortunately, NASCAR suspended Gallagher days later after he violated the substance abuse policy, but Elliott will be looking to add to the team’s highlight reel.
Last year, Gallagher drove the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet to a 24th place finish in the Johnsonville 180. A total of 28 drivers finished the race on the lead lap. Because of the fact that GMS Racing bring premier cars to the track, I am confident that Elliott will finish on the lead lap. The stage breaks will be opportunities for the team to adjust his car, and they will catch him up with the rest of the field.
Although restarts are important and Elliott’s reflexes are not as sharp as they were when he was in his prime, I predict that he will finish no worse than 25th place in the Johnsonville 180 at Road America. For an exact prediction, I predict that he will finish in 16th.
Next. 5 reasons to move Cup Series races to Saturday. dark
Where do you think Bill Elliott will finish in the Johnsonville 180 at Road America? Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 25 to see him drive the #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet in that race and to find out.