Current Video: Wind Tunnel: Dan Elliott
Dave Despain talks to General Manager of Gresham Motorsports Park, Dan Elliott, brother of NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bill Elliott.
Full Transcript (Automatically generated. May not be 100% accurate)
" Dan L it went well then good -- again -- street -- the night. -- thank you. Drexler could -- the background -- anxious to find out all value and Ernie and bill on. And how you manage to made up make up to left -- elevator warm Jets people wants to know about that but first let's talk about the new job -- motor sports park. The obvious questions are who's this rush of god why is it pouring billions of dollars into a threat there was on the ropes what's the what's the business --"
" Yeah Jim and Tony Gresham they've been out some to work with you know. I thank god for the opportunity that Gresham family for the faith in me and my family for the support because. This a renovation was one that has been out all of my career the experience that I have learned poured into the strike and what it's gonna take to. Make this the facility that the finance competitors somebody's looking looking far I mean it's just awesome what's been done."
" if so who's Gresham if he's the guy who runs. This is is like a driver development guy in addition to his business right."
" Well the Gresham family in the insurance business and yes they head off multiple drivers who have failed. Suns' -- county right now Madson Charlie. Definitely involved in the sport move and all that put AM dumb groom him to be one of the up and coming NASCAR stars I'm sure."
" as we look at that place and think back through the long storied history. I think we've got a picture of tiger -- star own woman very first race there that's 1967. NASCAR's premier division race turned 6869. KO Yarborough Bobby Isaac the winner you can actually -- a place a few years ago or don't do so. How do you use all of that history to your advantage does that help you in trying to put once famous racetrack back on the map."
" They've definitely because you know you look back at at the career my father everything that he tell me I'll have learned through the years of NASCAR. Every experience we've ever had ever tried that we've ever been to and it was easy to come up with somethin' that we felt like would be. -- Are great place to come and compete a great place come watch rice. And we tried to put that in everything that we've done all wet -- college experience went into everything that we did a year and that technology that I had we have here. We try to incorporate everything especially through the NASCAR parked. Because in the early years technology was a premium and -- a lot of money did Dave. And in this system here we've used a seven -- time -- system not only can we time that individual laps but I can destroy you raced aids. In 3 AM. An exit off the corners I can give -- all this data plus somethin' else it's in this Franken and this is our first -- track got no. Around here any thing I've seen on the east coast is the system that I've gone -- here and that's a wireless safety ladder system. Then you can say to my -- left behind me the safety labs and all I have to do is just. -- Any flying out or do. Drew I can control Iraq here and I can do that from the flag stand far from the from the control tower which are were here on the spotters stand right now."
" I asked Bert remiss question amid presenting your perspective do you got a fairly specific stake in the answer. What do you think the state of short track racing in America is business 2009 season winds down."
" I think it's going to transition -- I think that if we don't do something quickly that we're all of a lot of rice serves because it's too expensive. The roads are so varied. Me and our email have talked about this that link to as far as the engine combinations. That Chad sees it everything that we're looking at. And we're looking at too many very and series. Everybody trying to get a car specific to run in their own series and I believe overall it's tartan sports."
" Your are gonna open your season just -- a lot of tracks or are closing Bears in early November. -- an event that has got quite history and its own right 45 November's go world -- three members who oversaw a how about this entry was dirty river Mark Martin Darrell Waltrip Allen -- working Rusty Wallace and the entire all of Alabama game Bobby Donny and Davey Allison. Along with -- you'll wanna. All going to be Bordick furcal so tell me about -- the 26 annual world Crowell 300 that your opener."
" The -- sixth annual Estonia also -- really years. Because we've got drivers that have competed here for -- the lice decade that are going around and -- in this race as well as new drivers. And the new drivers they haven't come and Robert with the ones I'm looking forward to -- come here and compete. The cows we don't know exactly. With the surface we've got this track has got on how some amount agree up. We've got to some good tire testing done here we're good for the race I'll -- far track records I'm looking for a very exciting 300. And they should be something that I have to Atlanta already got tickets yet it's time to get him because it's gonna sell out quick I believe and what -- entry -- that we've got with -- more than 25 of -- got about 47 entries right now. And it's a notable list of drivers like to say that have competed here in a price and you up and coming drivers that nothing's gonna make a really exciting show."
" And those tickets start at ten but Dan. These days the notion of a family a local short drag racers going off and entering a cup race is crazy nobody can do draft. But in 1976 at Rockingham that's exactly what you -- did there was twenty you're earning a bit older than men. -- you pull at all forgy get a car right how did you do that. Hence."
" You know -- stories he go back out and it would I don't not talk about but. You know and nut Shell -- not explain their slot is if it's like stepping -- my father believes so much -- rice and and and lobbyists so much. That it was easy for him to. -- be able to do list but it's harder to go in and do it and especially. Jump to an end to the -- he looked at the cost involved -- what it would house to run sportsmen which is now. Nationwide and we looked at the -- and said you know for a little bit more money we can be around and on the cup level so. He decided to -- Arizona up and it was it was a good decision because at that at the time that we first came in. You could almost build a car out of the junkyard. Engines -- bit different but basically I'll rest of the car could come out of a junkyard. Few changes B roll bars and you could go rice and but. The stepping stones that land up for our careers to get a store we are today. If one of those styles have been myths and wouldn't be here today you know who without my bad -- them and us and and give us to a level. And then the Penske deal last still. You know that's one of the major things that. This started our career was get the cars from Roger win. He went from Mercury to Monte Carlo since were -- able to get those cars and some of the engine pieces and so forth. And then the next level would be meddling in you can go home and home down the down the path and worry any of that -- we wouldn't be here today."
" Tell me about the time dole finished second. I think it was Darlington shocked everybody they'll do -- all reporters cover wanted to meet this amazing young upstart and they end up meeting you. Is it is that a true story and they include out of that --"
" The other or several occasions light that I am down they always that his man advantage also -- in some situations and father or people who would come up to me and asked for an interview and I was doing what at Richmond I thought I was they're pretty good brought -- to the part I've forgotten -- dice though. Who went back down the stumbled around -- I realize that one male and few emails under the car working on something under the car and it was quite funny but now. He's easier to his advantage --"
" he hated talkative immediately let you do you have that absolutely there -- that you fewer of the -- are those far women have evolved. Talladega coming up that's where you read -- through twelve a couple of questions. How did you make that T -- so fast somebody named. Steve. And secondly how do you feel about restrictor plate racing."
" You know are the two laps under green at Talladega was a phenomenal day. It was one of the warrants more we have tested heavily out to the eighty fast -- and at the -- about 84 I can remember going to Talladega. Just before Christmas time and we spent several guys out there are and where he worked extensively. -- The engine and -- it took Aaron at the cal and tried to pressure as the carburetor and that's were. The 8788 thunderbird was so good because the balance of the car was so well. And we figured out how to feed that I -- into the engine and how we can pressurized that area. And that once we got into working with the eighty about 86 -- made 8788. -- But that 8586. Wasn't as balanced as 8798. But it was still allow some car and is still. Clark said everybody was a little bit light don't get that error to the engine and without Larry they engineer won't run and produce the horsepower. And out my thousand restrictor plate race and aren't too good I'm I'm not really Guerrero out what. All right I got about fifteen seconds left below pleasure team accomplished what makes you most proud. You know. All of the races that we want and being able to work together and do it as a family. I really thank god for all of that because -- and my mom and dad are Brothers Eric it just made everything. Perfect and complain."
" that we have just enough time Vermont the total adds pressure motor sports park formerly peach street speedway opening in three -- 26 annual world crowd 300 tickets embarks -- motor sports park dot com. Ted -- good luck creative project thanks for your dog died that's. Thank you -- from general contractor to general manager that a boy. And a."
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