By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
Saturday evenings NASCAR Xfinity Series Rhino Pro 300 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway officially marked the end of a career for NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler. A career that has spanned close to 25 years across all three of NASCAR’s top three series.
Sadler, who announced last August that he would retire from full-time competition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series following the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway briefly made a return this season.
Teaming up with Matt Kaulig’s, Kaulig Racing for two events, the first being his home track of Richmond Raceway earlier in the season Sadler finished 12th.
Yesterday’s event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway ended with the 44-year old crossing the finish line with a solid Top-10 result, something many had become accustomed to seeing.
I really enjoyed today… made a rookie mistake and knocked crush panels out with 50 to go 👎👎👎 but glad I was able to fight it out to the end .. 23 years is a long time to be in a sport you love so dearly.. so many memories and friends made .. no regrets!!
— Elliott Sadler (@Elliott_Sadler) September 15, 2019
Sadler confirmed this would be the last green flag he would take as he would officially retire, saying “I know deep down inside, this is it.”
Even with that said, Sadler gets to depart from a successful NASCAR career on his own terms.
Racing the No. 10 Nutrien Ag Solutions for Kaulig Racing, Sadler sported a scheme that honored his racing legacy. A scheme redesigned by the team and presented to Sadler, a surprise in which he knew nothing of.
“I thought all of the surprises in my driving career had come to an end, until Kaulig Racing showed me my first ever Late Model paint scheme on the No. 10 car this weekend for what will be my final race of the year”, said Sadler in a team press release.
The surprises weren’t over, Kaulig Racing’s team president Chris Rice served as Sadler’s crew chief in his final start. Rice and Sadler worked together in the 1990’s when the duo went on to claim the South Boston Speedway track champion title in 1995, as well as multiple wins that began in 1993.
Long-time friends — driver and crew chief — @Elliott_Sadler and @C_Rice1 admire #SadlersLastRide and recreated 1993 stockcar paint scheme before Sadler climbs in for practice. #LeadingTheField pic.twitter.com/76OFPEajoh
— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) September 13, 2019
Saturday’s race marked Sadler’s 855th start across NASCAR’s three series. With over 22 years of racing experience in NASCAR Xfinity Series on his resume, his final Top-10 marked his 227th in the series. In NXS competition, the Emporia, VA native further amassed 13 wins, 106 Top-5s and 18 pole awards.
#SadlersLastRide ends in a familiar spot, the top 10.
His 10th place finish tonight closes his career 227 #XfinitySeries top 10's in 397 races (57.2%) and an astounding 70.8% top 10 percentage since 2011. pic.twitter.com/fdrjvQhGxW
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) September 15, 2019