NASCAR BGN Advance Auto Parts 250 Preview -- #29, Elliot Sadler
11 July 1997
#29 Elliott Sadler, Phillips 66 Performance Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division
Advance Auto Parts 250 Advance
South Boston Speedway
ELLIOTT SADLER NOTES & QUOTES: ADVANCE AUTO PARTS 250
MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Elliott Sadler has had a very busy week, but he can't wait
to get to Myrtle Beach. He's ready to get back to the track where he's had
some Late Model experience, but more importantly he's ready to climb back
into what is probably his favorite car by now. The No. 29 Phillips 66
Performance Team Monte Carlo the team is taking to Myrtle Beach hasn't
finished outside the top five in three starts. The car's record speaks for
itself: one win, one pole position, one second-place and one fifth-place
finish. The win and pole came at Nazareth earlier this year, the No. 2 finish
came last weekend in Milwaukee and the fifth-place finish was at last year's
season finale in Homestead, Fla.
"Myrtle Beach is another short track, and most of the races so far in my
career have been on short tracks," Sadler said. "Even though I've never run a
Busch car there, I have some Late Model experience at the track." Sadler has
two Late Model starts at Myrtle Beach Speedway and one top-five finish.
Growing up, Sadler always visited Myrtle Beach once a year on vacation from
his home in nearby Virginia. He didn't get a chance to go in 1996, so he is
going down a few days early this year to spend some time with his family. A
staple for the Sadler family is a visit to Dick's Last Resort, a restaurant
where good service isn't their claim to fame, but the atmosphere has a certain
charm. Other spots Sadler enjoys visiting while on the coast are "Broadway At
The Beach" and the Pavillion.
The No. 29 crew spent Monday and Tuesday testing at Gateway International
Raceway, preparing for the upcoming Gateway 300 on July 26. Sadler and the
crew got a look at one of the series newest tracks. Sadler said he liked
running on the egg-shaped track and is looking forward to going back in two
weeks.
Crew chief Sandy Jones said their trip to St. Louis was really a learning
experience for both Elliott and the crew since the NASCAR Busch Series had
never visited the 1.25-mile facility. "We tried a lot of different things
while we were there. Some worked and some didn't," Jones said. "The important
things were that Elliott got a lot of seat time and we learned a lot about the
track.."
Elliott Sadler, along with Diamond Ridge Motorsports Winston Cup teammate Jeff
Green, will visit The Children's Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center on
Tuesday, July 15, from 10 a.m., until noon. The two drivers will be signing
autographs, distributing gifts and playing a racing video game against some of
the patients in the pediatric ward.
Last weekend Sadler drove the entire 250 laps with a piece of grit embedded in
his eye. The piece of debris didn't hinder Sadler's sight, but it was an
irritation each time he blinked. The only way to remedy to problem was to have
the object removed, which Sadler did on Wednesday following their St. Louis
test. Sadler rested his eye for 24 hours following the procedure, and his
doctor expects no further irrtiatation.
ELLIOTT SADLER CAREER NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RESULTS
Year Starts Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 Winnings Car Owner
1995 2 0 0 0 1 6,065 Marion Sadler
1996 13 0 0 1 3 64,370 Gary Bechtel
1997 18 3 1 3 5 204,169 Gary Bechtel
TOTALS: 33 3 1 4 9 $274,744
1997 NASCAR BUSCH SERIES RESULTS
Date Location ST FIN LC/TL Earnings Status
2/15 Daytona Beach, FL 1 15 120/120 18,262 Running
2/22 Rockingham, NC 6 5 197/197 9,985 Running
3/1 Richmond, VA 20 26 246/250 5,901 Running
3/8 Atlanta, GA 2 9 196/197 11,355 Running
3/16 Las Vegas, NV 2 30 140/200 13,925 Accident
3/22 Darlington, SC 1 29 147/144 6,415 Running
3/29 Hickory, NC 11 8 300/300 5,795 Running
4/5 Ft. Worth, TX 2 20 200/200 13,725 Running
4/12 Bristol, TN 28 14 249/250 6,455 Running
4/19 Nashville, TN 12 30 286/320 3,970 Running
4/26 Talladega, AL 7 16 117/117 10,280 Running
5/10 Loudon, NH 11 34 140/200 4,885 Accident
5/18 Nazareth, PA 1 1 200/200 30,887 Running
5/24 Charlotte, NC 8 21 199/200 5,842 Running
5/31 Dover, DE 7 12 199/200 10,310 Running
6/13 South Boston, VA 24 22 238/300 6,790 Running
6/29 Watkins Glen, NY 8 11 82/82 8,812 Running
7/6 Milwaukee, WI 11 2 250/250 28,575 Running
Outside
Starts Poles Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 LC/TL Earnings
18 3 3 1 3 5 3502/3730 (93.9%) $204,169
By Events & Outings, Inc.