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ELLIOTT SADLER

COCA-COLA 600 RACE PREVIEW

STATESVILLE, N.C. - Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 Best Buy Dodge, thinks few races compare to the overall presentation and show put on each year prior to the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Sadler Quotes
ON MEMORIAL DAY FESTIVITIES: "The reason we get to do what we do each and every weekend is what the men and women are doing both at home and abroad as far as protecting our country. My Dad was involved in the National Guard. I have a couple of cousins that have been over to Afghanistan and Iraq. My uncles all served in the Armed Forces. I was able to represent the U.S. Air Force years ago with the Wood Brothers when I raced the No. 21 car. We now have the U.S. Air Force on the No. 43 Dodge at Richard Petty Motorsports, so we understand what these people go through day in and day out to protect our country. I'm so glad that we get to give it back to them here on Memorial Day and race the Coca-Cola 600. I'm glad that each and every week we have the flyover and play the National Anthem for the fans. Lowe's Motor Speedway does such a great job of honoring the military and the people that protect us week in and week out."

ON THE COCA-COLA 600: "We start preparing for this race on Monday of this week to make sure that our body is ready to go that 600 miles. What is so different about it is that the last 150 miles is at dark, it's at night and the track is faster, so it's not like the race is slowing down. The race is actually going faster so it is getting harder on your body instead of easier as the race goes on. As you are getting hot, tired and dehydrated the race track is getting faster, so mentally and physically you have to be very prepared."

ON RPM FAN DAY: "Fan Day is one of my favorite things that we do each year. The week between the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 allows us to spend time with the fans, sign autographs, take pictures and really say thank you for supporting us. Plus, they get to come on out to the race shop and take a look at how much really goes into putting our cars on the track each week."

Additional Notes of Interest

Sadler is currently tied with teammate AJ Allmendinger for 25th in the driver point standings.
Sadler has led three races this season for a total of 29 laps, including two of the last three points races. Sadler led more laps in the season-opening Daytona 500 than he did in all of 2008.
The No. 19 team has finished each of the last five points races an average of 10 positions higher than its started.
Chassis No. 269 will serve as the primary. No. 269 last raced to a 32nd-place finish at Texas, and also finished 25th at California. No. 259 will serve as the backup for the eighth time this season (most recently for the Sprint All-Star Race).
Richard Petty Motorsports is hosting its annual fan day at the team headquarters in Statesville, N.C. on Friday, May 22. Richard Petty, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Reed Soreson and AJ Allmendinger will be signing autographs for the first 500 ticketed race fans. Tickets will be distributed at 10 a.m. and autographs will begin promptly at 11 a.m.

Race Information
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Race Name: Coca-Cola 600
Race Date: May 16
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Laps: 400 laps
Miles: 600 miles
Banking, corners: 24 degree
Banking, straight: 5 degree
Seating capacity: 165,000
Race No.: 12 of 36

Television Schedule
Date: Thursday, May 21
Practice: 3 p.m. SPEED TV
Qualifying: 7 p.m. SPEED TV

Date: Friday, May 22
RPM FAN APPRECIATION DAY - begins at 10 a.m. at team race shop in Statesville, N.C.

Date: Saturday, May 23
Practice: 2:30 p.m. SPEED TV
Qualifying: 6 p.m. SPEED TV

Date: Sunday, May 24
Race: 5:45 p.m. FOX TV

Radio Broadcast: MRN Radio