11/17/2015
Ninth-Place Finish for Sadler at Phoenix International Speedway
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 14, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing driver Elliott Sadler finished ninth on Saturday afternoon in his No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang at Phoenix International Raceway. Sadler qualified Saturday morning and started the 200 lap event from the 17th position. Pit strategy was the key to Sadler’s success on Saturday afternoon. Sadler gained the most ground when he pitted under yellow for two tires, during the second caution of the race. The rest of the field pitted for four tires and Sadler went restarted from the front of the field. Sadler couldn’t hold the lead long on two fresh tires, but he was able to hold the eighth position for next 40 laps. On the following caution on Lap 112, Sadler pitted under yellow with the field and restarted from the 11th position. Sadler drifted back on the restart, but showed less drop off in speed as the race went on. The final 79 laps stayed green and Sadler was able to work his way forward a couple of spots and cross the finish line in the ninth position.
“My success today is a direct result to the hard work and smart decisions my team made on pit road,” Sadler said after the race. “We decided to pit when others didn’t on the first caution, but the key move was on the second pit stop when we decided to only pit for outside tires. I gained 12 spots on pit road and even though we didn’t stay in first long, we still gained a ton of positions on a track which is hard to pass on. It was obvious my car performed at its best during the longer runs and I was glad the final 75 laps stayed green. Hopefully, we can run well next week and finish the 2015 season on a great note.”
Sadler qualified Saturday morning and started the 200 lap race from the 17th position.
Green flag racing didn’t last long and on Lap 17, we had our first caution of the day. Sadler radioed to the team, “Let’s do the opposite of everyone else.” Sadler was the first one to drive down pit road and the crew added four fresh tires, fuel and made a track bar adjustment.
Sadler restarted 28th, but quickly worked his way forward with his fresh tires.
The race had its second caution of the day on Lap 58. Sadler was scored in the 13th position and came down pit road with the field. Since Sadler had fewer miles on his tires, the crew decided to only change outside tires to gain track position. This risky decision paid off and Sadler gained 12 positions on pit road and restarted in the lead.
With the rest of the field on four fresh tires, Sadler’s front spot didn’t last very long. However, his lap times were still competitive and Sadler was able to hold the eighth position for 40 laps until the third and final caution waved on lap 112.
Under yellow, the No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang pitted with the field and Sadler’s crew added four fresh tires, fuel and made another track bar adjustment. When the race went back to green, Sadler restarted from the 11th position.
The remainder of the race stayed green and Sadler was able to gain a couple of positions before the checkered flag waved. Sadler crossed the finish line in the ninth position.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang will finish the 2015 season next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21st, 2015.
NEXT UP:
NASCAR XFINITY Series Race
Ford EcoBoost 300
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Saturday, Nov. 21st 2015
2:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN
RACE SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Started: 17th
Finished: 9th
