On this day in history, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott won his first of two races in his NASCAR Cup Series sweep of Darlington Raceway in 1985. Statistically and historically 1985 is Elliott’s most significant season in his career. He would ultimately put up 11 wins and take the Cup Series championship in ‘85. Plus,
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, then the title sponsor of NASCAR’s premier series, had established a $1,000,000 prize for a driver winning three of the sport’s Big Four races at the time – the Daytona 500, Talladega’s Winston 500, Charlotte’s Coca-Cola 600 and Darlington’s Southern 500 – in the same season. Elliott accomplished the feat earning the nickname ‘Million Dollar’ Bill.
