#5 Daytona 500
Daytona 500 – Daytona Beach, FL – 2/17/1985
Bill Elliott qualified 1st in his #9 Coors – Harry Melling Ford Thunderbird at a speed of 205.114 mph shattering the current record set by Cale Yarborough in the 1984 Daytona 500 of 201.848 mph. Yarborough qualified 2nd in the Harry Renier Hardee’s Ford. Elliott dominated the race leading 136 of the 200 laps at a blistering pace of 172.265 mph with only 18 caution laps during the race. The lead was traded between eight other drivers in the race before Elliott took the final lead from Neil Bonnett on lap 195 to win the 500 mile race by nearly a second in front of the 2nd place car of Lake Speed. Team Owner Harry Melling collected $185,500 for the dominating victory while Bill gained 185 Winston Cup Points.