Sadler Survives Bristol for top-20 Finish in Stanley Tools Dodge

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Elliott Sadler and the No. 19 Stanley Tools Dodge survived numerous cautions, spins by others and ensuing restarts to finish 19th in Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Starting 27th based on 2007 Owner's Points after Mother Nature claimed Pole Award Qualifying on Friday, Sadler fluctuated in between 28th and 23rd for much of the race. However, after making numerous air pressure and chassis adjustments later in the race, Sadler utilized several late-race cautions to move into the top-20 by lap 380.

Once there, that was where the No. 19 Stanley Tools Dodge would remain for the rest of the race. Even being the fourth car two laps down to the leaders, Sadler made one more pass in heavy traffic to earn 19th before the checkered flag waved.

Sadler and the No. 19 Stanley Tools Dodge team remain 20th in points, one marker back from 19th and 87 from 12th. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be off next weekend before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway the following week.

Two late-race cautions forced the Food City 500 to go six extra laps to complete the race. When the checkered waved, it was Jeff Burton in Victory Lane with teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer right behind him.
 

Elliott Sadler Quotes:

On your race today: "It was just frustrating; we didn't run the way we wanted. This is usually one of our best tracks. At the end of practice on Saturday, we had things pretty much where we wanted. I don't know if all the rain washed so much away during the night or if it was the cold temperature today, but we just weren't the same as we were in Happy Hour on Saturday. We still have a lot of work to do and have to keep doing our homework."

On the racing in general: "The racing was good; we just got strung out all over the track so early. It's tough to make up laps at a place like Bristol. We almost got caught up in one of those spins, but I went high as he slid low. It looked pretty big there at the end with the leaders getting together. The racing here is still great, and I hope the fans enjoyed watching us go two and three wide around this place. You don't expect to see that at Bristol."

On points situation: "All we can do is head to Martinsville (in two weeks), get all the points we can and keep moving forward. We're all looking forward to taking a much-deserved break."

Sadler and the No. 19 Best Buy Dodge team remain 20th in points, one marker back from 19th and 87 from 12th. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be off next weekend before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway the following week.
 

Rodney Childers (Team Director) Quotes:

On how the car was: "The car was just too tight all day. We tried, but didn't seem to do anything to make it a whole lot better. When we got it decent at the end, we were already one lap down to the leaders and there isn't much you can do about it then.

About the crew: "The guys did a great job on pit road and Elliott did the same hanging in there with the car being the way it was most of the race. Other than that, we're just happy to get out of Bristol and not have anything torn up."
 

© Copyright 2008 by ElliottSadler.com, All Rights Reserved

Copyright Notice:
Please note that all photos and images posted on ElliottSadler.com are copyrighted by ElliottSadler.com, and/or their respective source (including, but not limited to, CIA Stock Photo, Dodge and Gillett Evernham Motorsports) and all rights are reserved. There can be no reposting of such images without the written permission of ElliottSadler.com.