Elliott Sadler. Pleasant fellow. Easy personality. NASCAR driver.
Everybody knows who he is. He has won in Sprint Cup. He has driven for a number of teams. His introductions at the track generally draw applause and welcome cheers.
His record in Cup races highlights a few wins plus top 5 and top 10 finishes placing him generally in the upper tier of drivers. This, however, has not necessarily brought him into the limelight of NASCAR stardom.
Until now…
Sadler has created momentum in the early season of the Nationwide Series. Backed by Richard Childress Racing from the shops previously run by Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler has taken the #2 OneMain Financial Chevy to Victory Lane twice in the first four races of the 2012 season. He won at Phoenix and just registered the second win at the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Bristol.
Joey Logano had the pole and Sadler started in the 4th spot. He kept the #2 Chevy out of traffic danger that is so prevalent at Bristol and lead the final laps with a comfortable margin to roll under the checkered. Ironically, Logano finished in the 4th spot that Sadler started.
Sadler has good backing, a good team and the momentum. Time will tell if he can maintain the top points spot as the season continues. The Sprint Cup spotlight has eluded him so far but he certainly has the potential take the Nationwide Series.
Elliott Sadler is going for it. He has two out of four already with a 25 point lead. Can he hold on for 29 more races?
Other finishes at Bristol of note:
Sprint Cup drivers filled the Top 5. Sadler, Kahne, Keselowski, Logano, Earnhardt, Jr.
Trever Bayne (2011 Daytona 500 winner with the Wood Brothers #21) finished 8th and is third in Nationwide points. Why this young, talented driver is having difficulty with sponsorships is a mystery.
Danica Patrick finished 19th after starting in the 27th spot. Not bad. She gained position and is 12th in points overall. That is a pretty good start for the woman that faced a lot of scrutiny for her transfer to NASCAR from IndyCar.
The Nationwide Series is shaping up to be on the “must watch list” for 2012.