07/05/2015
Despite Late Race Drama, Sadler Finishes In Second-Place At Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing’s Elliott Sadler finished in second-place during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Sadler qualified in the 10th-position for the 100 lap event on Saturday afternoon. Sadler moved forward quickly and ran the majority of the race in the Top-5. With four laps remaining in the race, Sadler was in the outside lane when the lead car moved up and pinched Sadler off against the wall. This created a large multicar pileup, taking out multiple top cars. Sadler suffered damages and when pit road opened, Sadler came in for temporary repairs. Sadler’s crew changed the tires and pulled back all the damaged fenders. The crew fixed Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang without losing a lap and Sadler restarted in seventh-position. In the final two laps, Sadler worked his way forward and crossed line in the second position.
“It was definitely a disappointing night for us,” Sadler said on pit road after the race. “We were in the cat-bird seat going into the back straightaway with Joey Logano pushing us. We had lot of momentum coming off turn-two. I think that Brian Scott or his spotter made the block call too late. I was already up to his right rear tire when he made the block move and it wrecked us. It wasn’t intentional, but it stinks it happened to us. That is two restrictor plate races in a row that we were in really good shape with less than four to go and couldn’t pull it off. Tonight really stings because we were really fast, top-four all night, and then the wreck happened. Second is our best finish of the year, but it isn’t what we came to Daytona to do. We will have to take it and move on.”
Sadler started from the 10th spot for the 100 lap event on Saturday, July 4th. Three cautions occurred in the first 14 laps and on the third caution, the field came down pit road in replacement for the scheduled competition caution. Sadler entered pit road eighth and stopped for fuel only. This quick stop helped Sadler move forward on position.
Restarting seventh, Sadler continued to push forward and moved into the Top-5 after one lap. By Lap 21, Sadler worked his way into fourth.
On Lap 60, Sadler entered pit road under green and pitted for fuel and added two fresh outside tires. When the field cycled through green flag stops, Sadler was scored in the third position.
With four laps remaining in the race, Sadler was in the high lane when the No. 2 car on the bottom lane tried to move up and block the oncoming run. The block didn’t work, resulting in pinching Sadler’s car against the wall. This created a large pileup at the front of the field. Sadler suffered damage to the car, but it didn’t total the car. When pit road opened, Sadler entered and the crew changed all four tires and beat out the damaged fenders as much as possible. The crew was able to fix the damages, without Sadler losing a lap. Sadler restarted seventh with two laps remaining in the race.
In the final laps of the race, Sadler was able to pass a few cars in the draft and exiting turn-four, Sadler made his move around the No. 9 car and crossed the finish line in the second position.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang will be back in action next week at Kentucky Speedway.
NEXT UP:
NASCAR XFINITY Series Race
Kentucky 300
Kentucky Speedway
Sparta, KY
Friday, July 10th, 2015
7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and MRN
RACE SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Started: 10th
Finished: 2nd
Complete Race Results:
POINTS SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
2015 Season Total: Fifth with 489 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Starts – 15
Wins – 0
Poles – 0
Top-5s – 2
Top-10s – 6
