Bad Ending to Great Run for Sadler and Team in Talladega
 

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Elliott Sadler and the No. 19 Garmin Dodge team came into Talladega Superspeedway with high hopes for a great finish. And, for the early part of the 188-lap race at the 2.66-mile trioval on Sunday, they were headed in that direction.

After starting 18th, Sadler quickly rocketed to 10th on the first lap showing his prowess for the draft. From there, the Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver - with three Talladega poles to his credit - would move up into the top-five. While running near the front, the team took advantage of some timely cautions to improve track position by taking only two-right side tires and/or two left side tires on several stops.

Sadler ran in the top-15 for 75% of the race, only falling back when getting shuffled back and forth via the draft. Matter of fact, the team led their first laps of the 2008 season when Sadler drag raced Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to the finish line on lap 133 to take the top spot. In all, he would lead three times for three laps.

After dropping back to eighth position three laps later, Sadler would retake the lead on lap 139. This not only marked the team’s first laps led this year, but the 11th consecutive Talladega race Sadler has led in his career.

As is typical of Talladega racing, a multi-car wreck occurred taking out and/or damaging several cars occurred on lap 173. While trying to avoid spinning cars in front of him, the left quarter panel and bumper of the No. 19 Dodge was jostled by another car. This caused Sadler to spin off the banking and on to the apron. But, the good news was no further contact took place and he was able to keep rolling.

Coming in for four tires, fuel and a quick check of the car’s body allowed Sadler to return to action for the lap 177 restart. Still on the lead lap in 24th place with 11 laps remaining, he quickly put the Garmin Dodge through its paces moving to 15th place in just four laps. The caution waved again on lap 180.

Team Director Rodney Childers and Sadler elected to stay out to maintain track position for the lap 183 restart. Once the green waved, tensions were high as drivers all jockeyed for great finishes. Sadler went from 18th to 11th to 21st when the white flag waved.

However, another multi-car accident occurred on the final lap as the field exited turn 2. With no way to avoid it, Sadler’s Dodge was hit from the side and collected with a multitude of other cars.

The car was too damaged to finish the race and was flat bedded into the garage. After being checked at the Infield Care Center, Sadler was released with no injuries.

The team finished 29th, one lap down, and dropped from 23rd to 26th in points. They are seven points behind 25th and 71 out of 20th place. Post Race Loop Data showed Sadler kept the No. 19 Garmin Dodge in the top-15 for 141 of 188 laps; fifth best. He also received the sixth best Driver Rating and 200, of 286, passes were Quality Passes.

Elliott Sadler Quotes: “I hate that we ended our race the way did out there. We ran so, so well throughout the race and the car was so good in the draft. We would fall back, but then be able to race our way back into the top-10 in the next few laps.

“There at the end, we were left toward the back after that first big wreck, but we were still able to move our back up front. Then, that last multi-car wreck wasn’t what needed one bit. We led laps today, we ran in the top-five and spent three-quarters of the race in the top-15.

“I was just trying to stay out of the way at the end and get a good finish for this team. I’m sorry it ended the way it did, I hate when it goes down like that because fans want to see us race to the finish. Heck, we’d like to see us race to the finish under green, too. I know we would have had a much better one than what you are going to see on paper.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Sadler’s home state track of Richmond International Raceway this weekend to race on Saturday night.

 

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