NASCAR WCUP: Sadler returns to site of first Winston Cup win

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 21, 2001

When Elliott Sadler, driver of the #21 Motorcraft Ford Taurus, returns to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, he is not only going to his favorite race track, he's also returning to the site of his first NASCAR Winston Cup victory. Sadler won the Food City 500 at the half-mile track this past spring, in the 75th start of his Winston Cup career. Elliott took a provisional starting spot after a crashing his primary car in practice, and drove the back-up into the winner's circle - despite pitting on the backstretch. In addition to it being Sadler's first win, it was the Wood Brothers' first win at the Tennessee track.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS SAID BRISTOL IS YOUR FAVORITE TRACK. "It is. And it's not because we got the win. I have to explain this. I used to go to Bristol as a kid. I was 8, 9, 10 years old. I'd go to watch as a fan. But I love Bristol now to race on. It's 150,000 fans right on top of you. It's unbelievable how loud it is there. It's just an awesome atmosphere there. You can get so pumped up for that race. I'd recommend to anybody to go to Bristol. If you ever get a chance to go, you need to go one time. It's the most unbelievable place on earth. If you ever get a chance to go it will spoil you for everywhere else."

WILL YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT WITH THE CAR THIS WEEKEND? "When we go back (to Bristol) we'll have to put some more spring in the front of the car and make sure we can hold it up off the ground. We'll be going back a little bit blind from where we were, but it's the same car, same everything and hopefully we'll have the same results.

DIFFERENCES IN THE DAY RACE AND THE NIGHT RACE? "The night race is always a little bit tighter, but I ran well there last year. I think I finished seventh and that was my best finish up to that date. I really like Bristol. I don't care if the car is tight or loose. We usually have a pretty good car there. We're going to take the same car, try to do the same things to it and hopefully catch up with some of the momentum that we started with the qualifying at Michigan."

AND HOPEFULLY QUALIFY ON THE FRONT STRETCH. "Yeah, I think we can qualify on the front stretch. I have before until I wrecked my car in practice in the spring. That will make a big difference and will be a big help, especially with the game plan we've got for Saturday night."

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT YOUR WIN IN THE SPRING? WILL IT BE A SPECIAL FEELING GOING BACK THIS TIME? "The biggest thing was coming down the back stretch pits and seeing all the guys across the wall and the jubilation they had. And then pulling into victory lane and those guys smiling ear-to-ear. For a driver there is nothing you can ask for that is a greater feeling than seeing your guys happy and being able to celebrate. That was a great feeling."

PAT TRYSON, CREW CHIEF ON THE #21 MOTORCRAFT RACING FORD TAURUS, ALSO GOT HIS FIRST WIN WITH THE WOOD BROTHERS AT BRISTOL.

WHAT STANDS OUT IN YOUR MIND ABOUT THAT DAY? "I guess it would probably be the celebration in victory lane. Being there with everybody, the Wood Brothers and Elliott, the guys on the crew. It was such a big deal for all of us. And it was bigger because of who was there. It had been several years since the Wood Brothers had won a race. It was great to be a part of that."

Text provided by Marti Rompf

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