Elliott qualified in a 1976 Grand Torino for his first Winston Cup (then Grand National) event on February 29, 1976 for the Carolina 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway, Rockingham, NC. Bill's qualifying speed was 133.297 and his starting position was 34th. After having the oil pump break during the race, Bill was unable to complete the event and finished 33rd, earning $640. Bill's father, George, was the sole owner of Dahlonega Ford Sales and this was the only sponsor on Bill's car during this point in his career. His next start at the Atlanta 500 in March went even worse. Bill finished dead last after losing a driveshaft 21 laps into the race. That summer he wound up getting several rides in a Ford owned by Bill Champion (the number 10 car) and he fared a bit better, finishing 23rd at the World 600, 19th at the Firecracker 400 in Daytona, and 14th in the Nashville 420. The 14th at Nashville was destined to be the best finish in Bill's eight starts that year. Elliott wound up 41st in the points that year.