How NASCAR Champ Bill Elliott Became ‘Million Dollar Bill’ in 1985
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- In 1985, NASCAR Cup Series sponsor RJ Reynolds unveiled what seemed like an outrageous program at the time.
- It was called the Winston Million because RJR would pay a million dollars to every driver who could win three of the so-called Big Four races – the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 (at Talladega Superspeedway), the Coca-Cola 600 (at Charlotte Motor Speedway) and the Southern 500 (at Darlington Raceway).
- The Winston Million program was perfectly timed for driver Bill Elliott, whose 1985 season was one of the best in the sport’s history.
When RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. came on the scene to begin sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series in the 1970s, the top tier of stock car racing changed.
Denied the television route for advertising, RJR had money to spend, and NASCAR was a major benefactor. RJR embarked on major marketing programs, bought an ocean of paint to renovate speedways, and took NASCAR to another level with its polished and professional approach to the sport in general.
Almost every year, it seemed, RJR, through its Winston brand of cigarettes, would come up with another stunning idea to improve both the sport and its presence in it.
In 1985, it scored again, announcing what at the time seemed like an outrageous program. It was called Winston Million. RJR would pay $1 million to any driver who could win three of the so-called Big Four races – the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 (at Talladega Superspeedway), the Coca-Cola 600 (at Charlotte Motor Speedway) and the Southern 500 (at Darlington Raceway).
The promise of the program was evident in the faces of the riders who witnessed the announcement. They saw green.
Coincidentally, the Winston Millions program was perfectly aligned with driver Bill Elliott, whose 1985 season was one of the best in the history of the sport. Elliott raced to 11 Superspeedway victories that year and at times was virtually unstoppable.
Elliott won at Daytona in February and scored again at Talladega in May. Remaining on the Winston Million schedule was the 600 in Charlotte in May and the Southern 500 in Darlington towards the end of the summer. Win one and Elliott could win an extra million.
With Charlotte at the 600 mile marathon, Elliott’s magic vanished. Tire and brake problems resulted in an 18th place finish and the hunt for the $1 million shifted to Darlington, considered by most drivers to be NASCAR’s toughest track.
The Elliott team put all of their time and attention into preparing the car for the 500. At the track, additional security guards guarded Elliott’s garage box to limit distractions.
Elliott’s task was made somewhat easier as some of the sport’s top drivers, including David Pearson, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and Harry Gant, parked their cars with a variety of issues.
In the end, Elliott crossed the checkered flag first, 0.6 seconds ahead of Cale Yarborough. Elliott led 100 of the race’s 367 laps, including the last 44. In the final laps it was clear only a mechanical problem could rob him of that big bonus.
He was celebrating on Victory Street when fake dollar bills floated onto his winning car.
The Winston Million was not won again until 1997, when Jeff Gordon claimed the prize with victories at Daytona, Charlotte and Darlington.
