Elliott Surprises Himself by Winning at Atlanta

Bill Elliott took advantage of a break 46 laps from the finish and won Sunday’s Motorcraft 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“I was stunned when I came across the (finish line). In this business, you’ve got to take the luck where you can get it,” Elliott said.

Elliott scored his third consecutive NASCAR Winston Cup victory after a timely caution flag gave him nearly a full-lap lead. When Davey Allison, who had led since Lap 180, made his scheduled stop on Lap 283, Elliott was the only contender who had not pitted and the only competitor on the lead lap.

Mike Wallace then spun and hit the wall coming off Turn 2, bringing out the seventh and final caution flag of the day. Elliott was able to beat Harry Gant and Allison back to the flag stand by less than a car-length. Elliott then pitted under the yellow.

He drove on to his 37th career victory, beating Gant by 22.6 seconds and averaging 147.746 m.p.h.