SPARTA, KY (July 11, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing’s Elliott Sadler finished in fifth-place during Friday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Kentucky Speedway. Rain cancelled NXS qualifying on Friday afternoon and the starting positions were set from Thursday’s NXS practice times. Sadler started the 200 lap event on Friday night from the 11th position. Sadler got off to a great start and worked his way up to the sixth position by Lap 50. The crew executed fast stops and the adjustment calls made by crew chef Phil Gould helped Sadler maintain his position for the majority of the race. In the final laps, Sadler passed the No. 33 car and brought home a top-five finish.
“It was a good night for us,” Sadler said on pit road after the race. “I’m just really proud of all the work everybody in the shop is doing for Roush Fenway. I don’t think we’ve given them enough praise the last couple months. We’re starting to get some new cars to the track and it’s paying off for us. I’m proud of Phil and the guys. They’re working their butts off and it’s starting to show. We made some good adjustments tonight during the middle of the race, but got off a little bit towards the end. However, we got right back on track during our last two tire pit stop. Phil did a great job calling the shots tonight, which allowed for me to battle with the top-five drivers.”
Sadler started from the 11th position for the 300 mile event on Friday, July 10th. Rain cancelled one of the practice sessions on Thursdayand rain cancelled qualifying on Friday afternoon. The field was set for the race based on the fastest times in Thursday’s NXS practice. Sadler had the 11th fastest lap time and started on the sixth row for Friday night’s race.
NASCAR scheduled a competition caution and on Lap 25 the yellow flag came out, Sadler was scored in the ninth position and came down pit road with the field. Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial crew changed two outside tires and made a track bar adjustment. Sadler restarted after the pit stop in the fifth position.
At the halfway point in the race, Sadler’s Mustang was running well and he was scored in the sixth position.
On Lap 134, Sadler pitted under green and the crew changed four tires and made another track bar adjustment to find more rear grip. Once the field cycled through green flag pit stops, Sadler was scored in the eighth position.
With 38 laps remaining in the race, the yellow flag waved again at Kentucky Speedway. Sadler drove down pit road and the crew opted for two outside tires, one can of fuel and a small wedge adjustment.
In the final 38 laps of the race, Sadler battled back and forth between the fifth and sixth positions. In the closing laps, Sadler was able to pull away from the sixth place car and bring home the top-five finish.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang will be back in action next week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
NEXT UP:
NASCAR XFINITY Series Race
Lakes Region 200
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, NH
Saturday, July 18th, 2015
4:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN and PRN
RACE SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Started: 11th
Finished: 5th
Complete Race Results:
POINTS SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
2015 Season Total: Forth with 528 points
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Starts – 16
Wins – 0
Poles – 0
Top-5s – 3
Top-10s – 7
