MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes - Elliott Sadler Notes

ELLIOTT SADLER/M&M’S RACING
MBNA 400 “A SALUTE TO HEROES”
Dover International Speedway/ June 6, 2004

Momentum Strong for Sadler Heading to Monster Mile

QUOTING M&M’S DRIVER ELLIOTT SADLER: “The key to passing at Dover is getting a good run off the corner and making your move going down the straightaway. We are running extremely fast when we enter the corner so it is very tough to try and pass on entry unless you have a good run off the last corner. I think Dover is a great race track because it is very unique in shape. Sure, it is concrete like Bristol but it is much faster which means the car will travel more and the setup needs to be close to perfection in order to run up front.

“It will be interesting to see how Dover plays out with this new tire. Dover is a very, very fast track so we will have to wait and see how much the times fall off as we go through a run. New tires have made a huge difference at almost every race track this year and I imagine Dover will be the same way. You'll see guys pitting and guys staying out for track position in the early stages but if new tires are making a huge difference then everyone will want tires when the yellow comes out.”

QUOTING CREW CHIEF TODD PARROTT: “We are taking chassis #23 this weekend to Dover. This was the car we ran earlier this year at Rockingham. Just to recap the performance by the #38 team last weekend in Charlotte – if Elliott had been feeling 100 percent we probably would have given the #48 car a run for his money. We had a stellar night - those guys were hungry and you could see it in every pit stop the crew made and every lap Elliott ran. This momentum is going to be big in getting through the dog days of summer.”

QUOTING M&M’S SPOTTER BRETT GRIFFIN: “When spotting for Elliott at Dover things happen so fast, I pretty much just say what I see and let him make the decisions. Cars go up into the wall at Dover and often come back across the racing groove especially if they wreck coming out of the corner. It's hard to explain how much banking the straight-aways have at Dover so if there is trouble on the front or back stretch I guarantee you the car will come back across the race track. The biggest challenge for spotters at Dover is probably clearing the cars as they enter turn one. We are located in turn four so depth perception can play tricks with your vision. Elliott and I have a system where I let him know when the car behind him is looking and it is his call as to whether or not they are actually inside.”

NOTES OF INTEREST…

NATIONAL D-DAY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION LOGO…Elliott Sadler will run a special D-Day logo on the rear quarter panel of the #38 car.

According to National D-Day Memorial Foundation President and Retired Army Colonial William A. McIntosh, M&M’S as a distinct place in wartime history. “Wherever American troops were - there were also M&M’S,” said McIntosh. “M&M’S was the only candy that didn’t melt in the conditions we faced as GI’s. I remember eating them for a quick pick me up and just because they tasted so good. We are so thankful to the Mars family for their contributions to American soldiers over the years.”

“We are proud to be a part of American history,” said Jeffery Moran Director of Communications for Masterfoods USA. “Placing the National D-Day Memorial Foundation decal on the #38 car for the MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway is a great to pay tribute to the Americans who fought for our country on this historic day.”

SADLER IN TOP TEN…Elliott is one of four drivers who has been ranked in the top-10 all season.

RACE FOR HOPE…The final eBay items went up for auction on June 2nd and will end on June 9th. The final tallies are rolling in and an announcement will be made next week.

TESTING AT POCONO…Sadler tests at Pocono on Thursday, June 3rd in preparation for the June 13th Pocono 500. APPEARANCE…Elliott will sign autographs for Goodyear at New Egypt Speedway in New Egypt, NJ on June 3rd at 6pm.