NASCAR BGN Series Autolite Platinum 250 Preview: #29, Elliot Sadler
4 September 1997
#29 Elliott Sadler, Phillips 66 Performance Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division
Autolite Platinum 250 Advance
Richmond International Raceway
ELLIOTT SADLER NOTES & QUOTES: AUTOLITE PLATINUM 250
RICHMOND, VA - Elliott Sadler has two very important things going for him
when he journeys back to his home state of Virginia to compete in the Autolite
Platinum 250. The No. 29 Phillips 66 Performance Team Chevrolet that Sadler
will drive on the 0.75-mile oval is the same one he has taken to victory lane
twice. The stat sheet on Sadler's favorite car speaks for itself. The car,
which Sadler nicknamed "Baby Duck," has two wins (Nazareth and Myrtle Beach),
two pole positions (Nazareth and Myrtle Beach), two second-place (Milwaukee
and Indianapolis) and one fifth-place finish (Homestead in 1996). The car has
never finished outside the top five in five NASCAR Busch Series starts.
The second thing Sadler is taking to Richmond is experience. This will be
Sadler's fifth start at Richmond International Raceway, the most starts he has
at any one NASCAR Busch Series track. Sadler said he thinks seat time, along
with a little racing luck, will make for a successful weekend.
"We have great expectations for our trip to Richmond," Sadler said. "We are
going to have a better prepared car in the fall than we did in the spring.
We've also learned a lot as a team since this spring. I really feel we have a
chance for a top-five finish, but we are really aiming for a win. It is also a
night race, which really adds to the excitement.
"It is always special when I get to go back home for a race, sleep in my own
bed and race in front of a hometown crowd."
- On Wednesday, September 3, Sadler made several appearances in and around
his hometown of Emporia, Va. He signed autographs at an Allied Signal plant in
Chesterfield, Va., and participated in the Hermie Sadler Open House in South
Hill, Va. Sadler signed autographs and mingled with fellow Virginians along
with his brother, Hermie, from 5-8 p.m. at the Sadler Motorsports race shop.
Members of the Phillips 66 Performance Team crew stopped by to enjoy the
festivities on their way to Richmond.
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY RESULTS
Date Start Finish Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 Winnings
9/8/95 28 24 0 0 0 0 3,550
3/2/96 23 13 0 0 0 0 4,330
9/8/96 20 23 0 0 0 0 4,175
3/1/97 20 26 0 0 0 0 5,901
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 24 4 3 6 9 329,184 Gary Bechtel
Totals 39 4 3 7 13 399,619
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
8/16 Brooklyn, MI 39 18 99/100 9,395 Running
8/22 Bristol, TN 32 41 43/250 7,420 Accident
8/30 Darlington, SC 20 9 147/147 9,625 Running
Outside
Starts Poles Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 LC/TL Earnings
24 4 3 3 6 9 4481/4917 (91.1%) 329,184
By Events & Outings, Inc.
