Sadler wins in Corn Country!

[media-credit name=”Kyle Ocker” align=”alignright” width=”232″][/media-credit]Elliott Sadler won the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway for his fourth win this season and a little bit of redemption from last week. Sadler who told ESPN’S Shannon Spake said that his dad gave him a great quote. Elliott said, “Elliott don’t let NASCAR take the championship away from you. Go to Iowa and give them ****”. You could see the relief on his face as he celebrated to his team in victory lane. Justin Allgaier, Sam Hornish Jr, who won the dash for cash, Michael Annett and Ricky Stenhouse Jr rounded out the top 5.

Sadler started on the pole and led the 43 NASCAR Nationwide series cars to the green. It did not take long for the lead to change as the 18 year old of Darrell Wallace Jr took the top spot on the back stretch.  This is Wallace’s 2nd race as the other race he competed in was earlier this year at the very same track.

On lap 35 Wallace was leading until he caught lap traffic which made Austin Dillon and Justin Allgaier catch the leader. Dillon took the top spot until the competition caution on lap 50.

The leader came in during that caution. Justin Allgaier told the team he is very tight and he has no side bite so they gave him an air pressure adjustment and 4 tires. Dillon came in and also was tight but it was getting better as the run went on.  He only took two tires and came out second as Sadler also took 2 tires and lead them off pit road.

Sadler led the field back to the green flag on lap 57 but got pushed back to 2nd as Dillon took over the top spot. Brian Scott had to make a unscheduled pit stop as he felt a vibration on his right front. He came in got 4 tires and fuel and went back out but fell back to 31st, 2 laps down.

Caution came out for the 2nd time when the 44 of John Blanketship got spun by Jeremy Clements  in turn 2. All of the leaders came in as Dillon took four tires and was off but lost 9 spots. Stenhouse’s tire changer slipped coming to the left side of the car which slowed his stop.Stenhouse took 4 tires and a wedge adjustment. Sadler was talking in code with his crew saying they would take “Alabama”. He took 4 tires but barely avoided a penalty when the tire came off the right side and almost left the pit but the rear tire changer caught it and saved it. Allgaier came out first as well as Cole Whitt and gained 10 spots.

Allgaier lead the field to the green flag on lap 96 followed by Michael McDowell, Sam Hornish Jr, Cole Whitt and Michael Annett. Dillon came in on lap 138 with a vibration and took 4 tires and fuel. He finished 15th when he could not get a lap back.  Allgaier was leading by 3.90 seconds when he caught the 01 of Mike Wallace, who was running 19, which made Sadler catch up to him and contend for the top spot.

Caution came out for debris for the 3rd time tonight as the leaders could make their last pit stops here in Iowa. The race leader came in to his pit, telling his pit crew that he was tight in the center and loose threw the turns, got four tires and an air pressure adjustment. Sadler got 4 tires wanting more forward bite and also some fuel. Allgaier went off pit road 1st while Sadler lost a spot to Kurt Busch who got 4 tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.

Allgaier led the field to the green flag with 178 in the books and started to pull away. Sadler gained lap by lap and caught the 31 and passed him for the lead with 57 to go and never looked back.

Kurt Busch was running second when a tire got cut with three laps to go and he had to go in a to get some new right side tires. He finished 17th driving for his brother Kyle.