An end to an awesome era?

Bill from Dawsonville not revealing future plans

Bill Elliott has won NASCAR's most popular driver award a record 16 times. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Bill Elliott isn't giving any hints about his future driving plans, even amid widespread speculation that he's contemplating retiring at the end of this season.

"When I'm ready to talk, I'll talk. When I ain't, I ain't," Elliott said Tuesday. "That's just plain and simple. When it's time, it's time and I'll let you know."

Elliott, 47, is in his 27th Winston Cup season. He was the 1988 Winston Cup champion and has 43 career victories and 52 poles.

He earned the name "Million Dollar Bill" during the 1985 season when he won a record 11 races and the inaugural Winston Million, a $1 million bonus from sponsor R.J. Reynolds for winning the Daytona 500, the Winston 500 at Talladega and the Southern 500 at Darlington in the same season.

Elliott has won NASCAR's most popular driver award a record 16 times, but "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" Ga., removed his name from the ballot earlier this year.

Last season, his second in the No. 9 Dodge for Evernham Motorsports, saw a resurgence in Elliott's career. He won two races, including the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to give him victories in all of NASCAR's crown jewel events.

He finished 13th in the final point standings.

This year has been a bit of a struggle for Elliott, who broke his foot in an accident in May but did not miss a race, driving with a special brace to help him shift. But he's got just three top-five finishes and is 17th in the standings.

Still, car owner Ray Evernham said Elliott can drive the No. 9 Dodge as long as he wants to.

"Bill is one of the best drivers I've ever worked with, and he carries our deal on his back a lot of the time," Evernham said. "I feel like I owe him a lot and he can drive my car until he doesn't want to do it anymore."

But Elliott admitted Tuesday he has given thought to how long he wants to continue driving. If he's come to a conclusion, he wasn't saying.

"I'm almost 50 now, so I've given it thought because I'm definitely on the shorter end of the stick," he said.