Said to drive for Elliott in Watkins Glen | Modesto Bee

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Rain washed out Boris Said’s chance to make another Nextel Cup race on Friday. But what rain took away, Bill Elliott gave back.

Elliott, who has been driving the No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers the past several weeks, saw Said in the garage Saturday morning and offered him the chance to drive in his place for Sunday’s race and Said agreed.

“I haven’t road-raced since Sonoma and this team is so close to where they need to be,” Elliott said. “Bill Elliott doesn’t need the points, so why should my selfishness take away from this race team if I feel like with Boris, having come off fresh from racing last week and as much as he’s road-raced, I feel he can do better than I could?

"And that’s the reason I did what I did.”

Said practiced in the car Saturday and because of the driver change will have to start Sunday’s race from the rear of the field. Said has one NASCAR road course win, coming at Sonoma, Calif., in the Craftsman Truck series in 1998.