How NASCAR Champ Bill Elliott Became 'Million Dollar Bill' in 1985

• In 1985, NASCAR Cup Series sponsor R.J. Reynolds unveild what at the time seemed to be an outrageous program.

• It was called the Winston Million, as 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 Winston Million program was perfectly timed for driver Bill Elliott, whose 1985 season was one of the best in the sport’s history.

When the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. arrived on the scene in the 1970s to begin sponsorship of the NASCAR Cup Series, the top level of stock car racing was transformed.

RJR, denied the avenue of television for advertising, had money to spend, and NASCAR was one of the major benefactors. RJR began major marketing programs, bought an ocean of paint to refurbish speedways and generally elevated NASCAR to another level with its polished and professional approach to sports.

Almost every year, or so it seemed, RJR, through its Winston cigarette brand, came up with another stunning idea to enhance both racing and its presence in it.

In 1985 it scored again, announcing what at the time seemed to be an outrageous program. It was called the 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 could be seen in the faces of drivers who attended the announcement. They saw green.

It so happened that the Winston Million program was perfectly timed for driver Bill Elliott, whose 1985 season was one of the best in the sport’s history. Elliott dashed to 11 superspeedway wins 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 at Charlotte in May and the Southern 500 in Darlington near the end of summer. Win one, and Elliott could bank an extra million.

At Charlotte in the 600-mile marathon, Elliott’s magic went away. Tire and brake issues left him with an 18th-place finish, and the chase for the $1 million moved to Darlington, considered by most drivers NASCAR’s toughest track.

The Elliott team poured all its time and attention into car preparation for the 500. At the track, Elliott’s garage stall was guarded by extra security personnel to limit distractions.

Elliott’s task was made a bit 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 problems.

In the end, Elliott swept under the checkered flag first with a lead of .6 of a second over Cale Yarborough. Elliott led 100 of the race’s 367 laps, including the last 44. Over the closing laps, it was clear that only a mechanical issue could rob him of the big bonus.

He celebrated in victory lane as fake dollar bills floated onto his winning car.

The Winston Million wasn’t won again until 1997 when Jeff Gordon claimed the prize by winning at Daytona, Charlotte and Darlington.