Elliott Sadler

By Nikki Gonzales
May 19, 2000 - Elliott Sadler has always stood out, even before he made the move to the NASCAR Winston Cup racing series. Whether it was because of his blue sunglasses, or baloney burgers, or even just his all around good guy qualities. Sadler made a name for himself in his rookie season through consistency and dedication.

“I grew up a NASCAR fan. It has been my dream to race in Winston Cup since I was seven. Now I'm here and racing against my heroes. It's awesome and truly a dream come true,” declares Sadler.

Elliott is currently running his second year on the Cup circuit with the Wood Brothers, who are celebrating their 50th season in racing.

“So far I've been more comfortable in the car and I've also been more patient. One thing for sure though, my luck has not been as good this year as we would like. We've had some great racecars this season but we just haven't been able to capitalize on them. I'm looking forward to the next several weeks on the schedule. We are to the point in the schedule where I enjoy racing at places like Charlotte, Dover, and Michigan,” said Sadler.

Even in the shadows of Tony Stewart’s feats last season, Elliott still managed to shine. Sadler finished 25th overall and completed every race, not too shabby for a rookie. Those feats had him heading into his sophomore year with optimism and enthusiasm.

“The biggest thing I've gained is the ability to set the car up on Saturday afternoon with a combination that makes it fast for Sunday. These Winston Cup races are a lot longer than the Busch races, so the car setup for that extra 250 miles is critical,” explained Elliott.

Sadler’s average finish this season is 30th, with one DNQ, and only one top 15, could this be proof that a ‘sophomore jinx’ exists? “Heading into this season I didn't believe it," said Sadler. "Now, here we are three months into the season and I can't get rid of mine. I'm not sure if it is a jinx but it's definitely not the season we had planned for. We are turning this thing around right now and I know we'll taste success shortly.”

The Wood Brothers are a single car racing team, often leaving them at a disadvantage. “As far as test dates are concerned. We are allowed seven tests. The more cars a team owner has, the more tests they are allowed. The larger teams have enough test dates to test every track on the Winston Cup schedule,” states Elliott.

Although looking at the teams past statistics, one would not be able to tell. The team has 96 wins, 112 poles, and still holds records in NASCAR. With guys like, D. Gurney, P. Jones, C. Turner, C. Yarborough, A.J. Foyt, D. Allison, N. Bonnett, K. Petty, D. Jarrett, B. Baker, and M. Shepherd winning through out their 50 years in racing.

With all that history and success, Sadler has big shoes to fill. “Mark Martin has helped me ever since I came on with the Wood Brothers. He's helped me at test sessions and he also helps me on the weekends if I need it,” states Sadler.

Last season Elliott’s best finish of 10th came at Texas, and he started 4th at Charlotte. “I enjoy racing on the 1.5 mile tracks like Atlanta, Charlotte and Texas. They seem to suit my driving style and I really enjoy the high speeds.”

Sadler and the Wood Brothers Racing team heads to Charlotte in two weeks where the team will be running a special paint scheme on his CITGO Ford. The CITGO Ford will be identical to the ‘71 Mercury David Pearson drove during his 12 straight pole streak. This will be the third of five special paint schemes planned for their anniversary.

”I will be in the UAW-GM Parade (the weekend of the 600) and I sign autographs every week at my souvenir trailer. I'll also do some live TV and radio appearances. I really enjoy mingling with the fans. I am amazed at how loyal NASCAR fans are and how long they will wait for an autograph.”

When asked who he likes racing side-by-side with, Elliott responded that, “When you are racing side-by-side the object is to get in front of whoever it is. I trust most of the guys in the series but whether they are inside or outside of me I am doing all I can to stay in front of them or to pass them.”

For the Hermie Sadler fans, Elliott shares that, “Right now Hermie is working with MRN radio. He really enjoys it and he's made it to some of my races. He actually worked in my pits at Richmond.”

Well that’s it for this report. Also don’t forget you can send in your questions to be answered by a driver or crew member. I will be interviewing Jason Keller next week so send in any questions that you might have. Until next time, take care and remember Safety First!!!

Nikki

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