NASCAR WCUP: Sadler opportunity for good run at Chicagoland

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 10, 2001

Coming off his third place run at Daytona International Speedway this past Saturday night, Elliott Sadler is ready to take on the challenge of Chicagoland Speedway. NASCAR's first visit to the new Illinois 1.5-mile D-shaped tri-oval, located just south of Chicago, is slated for this coming Sunday. Elliott is very optimistic. He really liked the track when he tested there in June and looks forward to returning this week.

ELLIOTT SADLER, -21- Motorcraft Ford Taurus -- "I think it's pretty good to go to a new track. It's a new venue for sponsors. It's a new area to go and a new place to go to try to get new fans that have just been able to watch racing on TV, but have never seen it live. So if you go there and impress some fans on and off the track it's a good place to bring them to.

"It's a great racetrack. We were able to go up there and test and the facilities are unbelievable. It's shaped like Kentucky or Kansas City, but it's fast like Texas. It reminded me a lot of Texas, the way you drive the car. I liked that track. I really enjoyed it. I think all the guys liked going up there and we're looking forward to going back."

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE RACE AT A NEW TRACK? "I think there is a curiosity when you go to a new place. You wonder how everybody is going to do and wonder how you are going to run. You feel like you are on a more even playing scale when you go to a new track because nobody has any notes to go from or tidbits about that racetrack. So I think that it makes it more fair for everybody, and it gives everybody a better chance, especially single teams like we have. And if I do seem to be more excited about going to places like that, maybe that is the reason."

Text provided by Marti Rompf

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