NASCAR BGN Detroit Gasket 200 Preview: #29, Elliot Sadler
14 August 1997
#29 Elliott Sadler, Phillips 66 Performance Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division
Detroit Gasket 200 Advance
Michigan Speedway
ELLIOTT SADLER NOTES & QUOTES: DETROIT GASKET 200
BROOKLYN, MI - The Detroit Gasket 200 is Elliott Sadler's one year
anniversary with Diamond Ridge Motorsports. It was at this race last year
that Gary Bechtel's organization tapped Sadler to finish out the 1996 season
and compete full time in 1997. So far in his first full season with Diamond
Ridge, Sadler has collected three wins, four pole positions, six top-five and
eight top-10 finishes. He has also started on the front row seven times, more
than any other driver this season.
Sadler and the Phillips 66 Performance Team are taking the same car they used
earlier this year at Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte. The No. 29 Chevrolet Monte
Carlo Sadler will run this weekend has one top-10 finish (Atlanta) and one
outside pole position (Texas).
Sadler is looking forward to racing at Michigan Speedway again. Last year's
trip to Michigan was his first race on a superspeedway and he has developed a
lot of respect for the larger venues in the past year.
"Michigan was the first track I raced on that was really big, and experience
wise it was unreal," Sadler said. "It was a little scary at first, but now I
actually look forward to racing on the big tracks. Even though this isn't the
type of track I cut my teeth on, I really look forward to racing on them.
"I feel like we always have a chance to put the Phillips 66 Chevy on the front
row because our qualifying effort has been really strong this season, but I'm
also excited about our chances during the race. We have made a lot of
improvements on race day, getting the car where it needs to be at the end of
the race so we are in a position to win. We've really learned a lot over the
past year and I'm looking forward to what we can accomplish in the next 12
months with Diamond Ridge Motorsports."
Sadler took a little much-needed R&R on his weekend off from the NASCAR Busch
Series. He spent several days in his hometown of Emporia, Va., including a lot
of quality time at the family's lake house.
MICHIGAN SPEEDWAY RESULTS
Year Start Finish Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 Winnings
1996 10 9 0 0 0 1 5,995
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 21 4 3 6 8 302,744 Gary Bechtel
TOTALS: 36 4 3 7 1 373,179
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
7/12 Myrtle Beach, SC 1 1 250/250 30,750 Running
7/26 Madison, IL 12 1 240/240 48,925 Running
8/1 Indianapolis, IN 19 2 200/200 18,900 Running
Outside
Starts Poles Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 LC/TL Earnings
21 4 3 3 6 8 4192/4420 (94.8%) 302,744
By Events & Outings, Inc.