Sadler Finishes 11th After Flat Tire in Qualifying |

09/06/2015

Sadler Finishes 11th After Flat Tire in Qualifying

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Sept. 5, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing’s Elliott Sadler finished 11th during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Darlington Raceway. Sadler got off to a slow start when his morning had a quick speed bump in NXS qualifying. After making his first qualifying laps in round one, Sadler ran over something on his way back to pit road and sliced his front right tire. Sadler’s lap time qualified him to the second round, but Sadler couldn’t make an attempt in round two from the flat tire. With additional motivation to drive hard, Sadler started 24th and moved up 14 positions before the competition came out on Lap 25. The remainder of the race passed by quickly with only one more caution flag in the final 122 laps. Sadler battled inside the Top-15 all day and drove his No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang across the finish line in the 11th position.

“The flat tire in qualifying really put us in a hole,” Sadler said after the race. “The Darlington race is one of my favorite races on the schedule and it was unfortunate we had to start 24th from the flat tire in qualifying. We were able to weave through the field and I worked my No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang up to 10th before the competition came out. We battled in the Top-15 for the majority of the race and I was able to cross the finish line 11th. Now it’s time to get ready for next week at my home track in Richmond, VA.”

Sadler was the first car to take his qualifying laps in the first round of NXS qualifying at Darlington Raceway. After posting a quick lap time, Sadler ran over something on his way back to pit road and cut his tire. Sadler advanced to the second round of qualifying from his fast lap time, but the No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford never made an attempt in round two. Sadler started the 147 lap event from the 24th position.

Sadler carved his way through the field in the first 25 laps and worked his way up to 10th before the scheduled competition caution yellow flag came out.

During the competition yellow on Lap 25, Sadler pitted for four tires, fuel and the crew added one round to the track bar. When the race went back to green, Sadler restarted 11th.

Lap 70 brought out the second yellow flag of the race when a single car spun in Turn 4. At the time of the caution, Sadler was scored in the ninth position. Under yellow, Sadler pitted with the field and the No. 1 OneMain Financial crew changed four tires, added two cans of fuel and made an adjustment to the wedge. Sadler restarted on Lap 75 from the 10th position.

The remaining of the race stayed caution free and Sadler pitted for his final time under green on Lap 130. In the final laps, Sadler passed a few cars and crossed the finish line in the 11th position.

The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang will be back in action next week at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night.

NEXT UP:

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race

Virginia 529 College Savings 250

Richmond International Raceway

Friday, Sept 11th, 2015

7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

RACE SUMMARY

Elliott Sadler

Started: 24th

Finished: 11th

Complete Race Results:

www.roushfenway.com