Turner Motorsports set for Sprint Cup Series debut with Bill Elliott

Since their 2009 debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Turner Motorsports has been working to make a name for themselves. Currently competing in both the Truck and Nationwide Series, the Turner Motorsports stable is making a bold statement at Daytona this weekend, debuting in the Cup Series race with NASCAR legend Bill Elliott as their driver. If that is not making a splash in their debut race, I do not know what is!

Elliott heads in Daytona with 44 career wins, four of which have come at Daytona. The numbers do not lie; Elliott is always a contender at DIS. In addition to those four wins, in 59 career starts at the track, Elliott has 15 top-fives, 24 top-10s and five poles. With an average starting position of 17.4, and an average finishing position of 15.6, the debut of Turner Motorsports could not have been with a better driver.

Other interesting Daytona stats:

• Elliott is one of six drivers to win at Daytona from the Coors Light pole more than once - he did it in 1985 and 1987.

• Elliott is tied with Dale Jarrett for the seventh-most all-time points race wins at Daytona in the NSCS with four.

• Elliott is ninth overall in laps led in points-paying races at Daytona with 617 laps led.

• Elliott has started 59 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Daytona, the fifth-most all-time behind Richard Petty (74), Dave Marcis (67), Buddy Baker (64) and Ricky Rudd (60).   

• Elliott holds the NSCS track qualifying record for Daytona with a speed of 210.364 mph (42.783 sec.) on Feb. 9, 1987 driving a Ford for Harry Melling.

The Turner Motorsports entry into the Cup series this weekend will be the No. 50 Walmart Chevrolet in honor of the company’s 50^th birthday celebration.

“I'm looking forward to being a part of Turner Motorsports Cup debut and to celebrating Walmart's 50th birthday,” Elliott said. “This has been a pretty cool deal to be a part of. I know we're going to have a good, competitive car. We just have run a smooth race and put ourselves in the right position at the right time."

With veteran crew chief Trent Owens atop the pit box, Elliott is in good hands. Owens has already led his team to victories at Daytona with James Buescher and most recently he won at Road America with Nelson Piquet Jr.

"It's exciting to be part of Turner Motorsports first Cup race with Bill Elliott and support from Walmart,” Owens said. “We've come a long way in just the last two years, so to take this step is really going to be a milestone for everyone who works so hard for this team every day."