SPARTA, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2015) – Roush Fenway Racing’s Elliott Sadler finished 11th during Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Kentucky Motor Speedway. The No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang qualified for the 200 lap event on Saturday afternoon and started the race from the 12th position.
In the first half of the race, Sadler worked his way through the field and moved into the fifth position. Running fourth on Lap 152, Sadler came down pit road under green, for what he hoped would be his last pit stop of the night. Sadler returned to the track one lap down in the 19th position. The team knew the majority of the field would still need to pit and Sadler’s car was good to make it on fuel. Not long after Sadler’s stop, the caution flag came out and completely ruined Sadler’s pit strategy. Sadler spent the final laps playing catch up. Sadler was able to gain a few spots in the closing 40 laps and crossed the finish line in the 11th position.
“Timing wasn’t on our side tonight,” Sadler said after the race. “Things were looking great for my No. 1 OneMain Financial Team tonight for the first half of the race. We worked our way into the top-five and the car ran great on long green flag runs. When we pitted on Lap 152, we knew it could be our last stop of the night. However, when the yellow waved shortly after we pitted, our strategy went out the window. We spent the remainder of the race trying to make up lost ground. Sucks, because we definitely had a faster car than what the leader board showed.”
Sadler made it to the final round of NXS qualifying on Saturday afternoon and started the race from the 12th position.
By Lap 50, Sadler worked his way forward and moved into the seventh position. Sadler’s lap times were fast and his car was starting to show little drop off on speed during the longer green flag runs.
On Lap 98, two cars collided and spilled fuel all over the track. This caution brought out the red flag for a 20 minute clean up. At the time of the caution, Sadler was scored in the fourth position.
Lap 152, Sadler’s team decided to come down pit road for a green flag pit stop. Sadler’s lap times were fast and if the race stayed green, the No. 1 OneMain Financial would have enough fuel to make it to the end.
Not long after Sadler pitted and before the majority of the field made their green flag stops, the caution flag waved again. This caution gave everyone else a chance to pit under yellow, without losing a lap or track positions. At the time of the caution, Sadler was in the 19th position, one lap down.
Sadler spent the final 40 laps of the race working his way back through the field. Sadler drove the wheels off his No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang in the last quarter of the race and crossed the finish line in the 11th position.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Sadler’s No. 1 OneMain Financial Ford Mustang will be back in action next week at Dover International Speedway on Saturday afternoon.
NEXT UP:
NASCAR XFINITY Series Race
Hisense 200
Dover International Speedway
Saturday, Oct 3rd, 2015
3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
RACE SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Started: 12th
Finished: 11th
Complete Race Results:
www.roushfenway.com
POINTS SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
2015 Season Total: Sixth with 872 points / -110 points back from the leader
2015 SEASON SUMMARY
Elliott Sadler
Starts – 27
Wins – 0
Poles – 0
Top-5s – 4
Top-10s – 13
