Catchfence

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Elliott Sadler returns to Martinsville Speedway this weekend for a homecoming of his own. Sadler, a native of Emporia, Va., has made the 150-mile trip west down US-58 to the flat 0.526-mile Martinsville Speedway to watch races since he was a child. Now, as he works to puts the finishing touches on his 11th full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Sadler would like nothing more than to win the TUMS Fast Relief 500 and add a signature Ridgeway grandfather clock to his home.

SADLER QUOTES:

ON MARTINSVILLE: “It’s all that’s good about short track racing. You show up with a car that’s perfect – not even a scratch on it – and when you pull in the garage after the race you can barely recognize it from all the beating and banging. You have to race as hard or harder at Martinsville than you do anywhere else, cause if you start towards the back you’re already a half lap down. This may be one of the toughest places to race, but it’s a throwback to how racing used to be around the southeast. This is the last track left from the original NASCAR schedule, kind of like a Fenway Park, but it’s as important to our sport now as it’s ever been. Plus, I would love to add a Ridgeway grandfather clock to my home, but I have to win it.”

ON FANS AS GRAND MARSHAL: “Honoring the fans as grand marshal is one heck of a cool idea. Martinsville does a lot of great things every year, but this is probably the best idea in a long time. And especially at a place like Martinsville that has been around since the very beginning. I think it’s really going to be something special and I’m looking forward to it.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST:

· Collectively in 2009, RPM drivers have posted two wins, eight top-fives, 22 top-10s and have led 289 laps through the first 29 points races.

· Sadler recorded his only DNF of the 2009 season at California-2 snapping a tie with Tony Stewart for the longest streak of consecutive races without recording a DNF.

· In Sadler’s highest career Martinsville finish was fifth (2003-1). He has recorded two additional top-10 finishes (sixth – 2006-1, ninth – 2005-1).

· In 21 career starts at Martinsville, Sadler has an average start of 27.7 and a 25.0 average finish. He has led 49 laps and completed 96.5 percent (10,142/10,510) of the total laps.

· In 2009, Sadler has led 37 laps in eight races for a total of 40 bonus points. In 2008, Sadler led five races for a total of 21 laps.

· On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Sadler and wife Amanda announced they are expecting the birth of their first child in March 2010.
· Sadler’s No. 19 Dodge always features two ribbons next to his name above the driver’s side door—a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon in honor of his mother and a puzzle piece autism ribbon in honor of his niece.

· Best Buy store No. 434 (Roanoke, Va.) is featured between the hood pins of the No. 19 Dodge at Martinsville.

· The Best Buy team is bringing chassis No. 261 to Martinsville. Sadler raced No. 261 to an eighth place finish on Sept. 20 at New Hampshire. No. 256 will serve as backup.

· Wally Rogers replaced Kevin Buskirk as Sadler’s crew chief staring at Bristol-2.

· SPEED TV viewers can see Elliott Sadler co-host “Trackside Live” Friday nights for the rest of the 2009 season.

· Sirius XM’s listeners can tune in to channel 128 on Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. to hear Sadler’s weekly visit on Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody.

· Follow Elliott Sadler on Twitter by clicking HERE or by visiting www.twitter.com/ Elliott_Sadler.

- Richard Petty Motorsports, Press Release