Sadler and Team Ready to Get Pointed in Right Direction at Talladega

Garmin to make sponsor debut on No. 19 Dodge Charger
 

TALLADEGA, Ala. - Talladega Superspeedway has been both cruel and kind to Elliott Sadler.

The No. 19 Garmin Dodge driver owns three poles, a top-five finish and led each of the last 10 races on the 2.66-mile tri-oval. But video of Sadler's two horrific accidents on the Alabama restrictor-plate track are staples of any racing show's highlights.

Sadler, who turns 33 on April 30, knows the importance that luck plays in restrictor-plate racing. He and the team are hoping their bad luck ran out in Phoenix when debris knocked a belt off the oil pump while running fourth. The 41st -place finish dropped the Gillett Evernham Motorsports team three positions to 23rd in points.

While Sadler is focused on Talladega, he received some welcome news last week when NASCAR added a test date at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Elliott Sadler Quotes:

On racing at Talladega in the new car: "From what we saw at Daytona and here last year, I can't see us putting on anything other than an exciting race. We went three and four wide at Daytona, and with the way this newly-paved track is at Talladega we should be doing some exciting racing. The new surface still has a ton of grip in it and is very smooth.

"To be successful at Talladega you have to bide your time. You can't go racing up to the front and expect to sit there the entire race. The way the draft is, you are going to go up and down in the running order and have to be ready for anything to happen because it does quickly at Talladega. You need to concentrate on being in the best place at the right time towards the end. Heck, look what Ryan Newman did in winning the Daytona 500 this year. He was running in the top-five when the white flag came out and made the pass for the win. You either have to be way out in front, or close enough to make the right moves."

On NASCAR adding a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway: "I am in favor of it because we need it right now. These new cars are so finicky that you pretty much have what you have when you unload. There was a lack of true racing on the 1.5-mile tracks of Atlanta and Texas, so these cars still need some massaging on those types of tracks. Another test allows us to work on the cars to get better on the intermediate tracks. This new test couldn't have come at a better time and a better place."

Race times at Talladega: After two practice sessions on Friday, qualifying is set for 11:15 a.m. (ET) Saturday on MRN Radio and SPEED-TV. Race time Sunday is 2 p.m. on with all 200 laps on MRN Radio and Fox-TV.

Sadler on "Trackside Live" at Talladega: After the two practice sessions Friday, Sadler will join the "Trackside Live" crew stage in the Talladega infield Friday evening at 7 p.m.

Autism Helmet Auction begins May 1: The very helmet Sadler has worn at each track this month goes on the auction block starting Thursday, May 1. The highest bidder when it ends on May 19 - via www.sadlerfoundation.org - will receive it autographed with a certificate of authenticity. Funds go to raising awareness and finding a cure for autism.

Car Notes
The No. 19 Garmin Dodge will run GEM Chassis No. ­­­­238 this weekend; a new car never raced.
 

Talladega Speedway

• Has made 17 starts at the 2.66-mile track earning three poles, one top-five, two top-10s while completing 2896 of 3208 laps (91.3%).

• Led 11 races, the last 10 consecutively, for a total of 98 laps. Started 39th and finished 15th in this race last year; led once for two laps.

• Best start was first; three times (fall 2003 and 2005, spring 2006) with best finish of third (spring 2003)

• Is one of three active drivers with three Talladega poles; Joe Nemechek and Jeremy Mayfield are the other two.

• NASCAR Loop Data ranks Sadler 10th through the last six races with a 81.4% Driver Rating.

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