BUSCH: Fontana: Bill Elliott - Dodge interview

BILL ELLIOTT (No.91 Stanley Tools Dodge Charger)

WHY DIDN'T YOU DO A FAREWELL TOUR?

"I saw what it did to Richard (Petty) when he did all that mess. For me it wasn't my style. I definitely don't want to run all the races. When I made that decision it was perfectly clear. I still want to run some, but to sit down and run a full season, I was done with that. I've done it for 21 years and that's enough. Ray needs to keep good sponsors around him. Right now we're trying to attract a deal that can come in and be the next group that can take over."

ANY PLANS SET FOR BUSCH RACES THIS YEAR?

"I've got a few things I'm planning on. It might happen and it might not. It's like when I go run my dirt car. I'll decide Friday morning if I want to go run it Friday night and then I'll show up. I hear Kasay and a lot of these guys now. I've been here 30 years. I've lived this stuff. I know what it's all about. For me to go and have a big hassle, I don't want it and I don't need it. For me there's more important things. I love to race, but I ain't going through the hassle. Just like if I go to a dirt show and it takes all night to run the race, I'll load up and go home. It ain't because I get mad. It's because I've got more important things to do. I want to race. I want it to be more of a pleasurable situation rather than a hassle. When it becomes a hassle it becomes no fun. Then why are we here? I've been fortunate enough to race through my lifetime and have a good time at it. Now there's another point in my life. What am I going to do the next 5, 10 15 years? I don't see anyone else in here much older than me that's still running all the races. I get more fun out of watching him (9-year-old son Chase) race than anything else in the world. It's a lot of fun. It's like talking to Kasey Kahne and some of the guys Ray's got. You tell 'em, but they've got to live it."

-dodge motorsports-