By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Elliott Sadler will not end his NASCAR career with an XFINITY Series championship.
Following an 11th-place finish in Saturday’s Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 at ISM Raceway, Sadler was eliminated from the Championship 4. In his place, Christopher Bell, who won at ISM to displace Sadler from the spot.
Struggling throughout the weekend, Sadler’s No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet started sixth and fell outside the top 10 following early damage. Earning no stage points on the day, Sadler knew he was behind.
“We fought way too many things today,” Sadler said. “Once I knew we didn’t get any stage points, I knew some things are really going to have to go our way for us to make it to Homestead. I just didn’t do a good job at getting us fast enough to make it on our own.
“And I led us in that direction so I take full responsibility for that. I’m the driver, I don’t point fingers. It’s on me to communicate.”
While fighting his car across 200 laps, Sadler also kept in contact with the points situation.
“About three times today I asked what position we were in and what was going on,” he said. “I’m a driver who likes to know what’s going on around me. It doesn’t change the way I drive, I just like to know.”
Retiring from NASCAR in one week, Sadler will not leave a champion. The veteran finished a highest of second four times (2011-2012, 2016-2017) and is disappointed his team won’t be there at the end.
“My guys did so much for me this year, we were fast at the right times,” he said. “Not closing the deal at Texas with a top-two or -three finish and not doing a good job here — We run up front all year, I wish they were one of the four going to Homestead.”
Despite no title on the line, Sadler is still in preparation for the emotional weekend to come.
“I’ve been doing this for 23 years, since I was 7 years old putting on a helmet every weekend,” he said. “It’ll be more relaxing not running for a championship but it’s going to suck, too.
“Everybody is coming so we’ll make the most of it and cherish that moment. We still have an opportunity to run for a checkered flag. We can throw caution to the wind because it doesn’t matter next week.”
Sadler hasn’t won a race in over 2 years in the best equipment in the series. No wonder his sponsor left him and the team dropped him. Forced into retirement. Time to go.