Catchfence

Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 Charter team claimed a 12th-place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series road course event at Watkins Glen International. After starting the race from the seventh position at the scenic facility in upstate N.Y., the Richard Childress Racing driver battled with lack of rear grip throughout the course of the event but was able to maintain a top-10 position in the early laps.

The Luke Lambert-led pit crew developed their road course racing strategy and stuck to it, utilizing a two pit-stop approach to the 82-lap race. In an attempt to gain more rear grip on the Charter Chevrolet, Lambert called for chassis adjustments during the team’s four-tire pit stops on lap 22 and 52. Following the final pit stop, Sadler was concerned the changes did not help and was soon challenged with additional handling issues on the No. 2 Charter Chevrolet, dropping the Nationwide Series driver championship point leader to the 14th position on lap 57. Fighting to gain position on the seven-turn road course, Sadler remained on track during the final caution period of the day on lap 76, lining up the No. 2 Chevrolet in the 11th position for the final restart.

Sadler battled over the closing laps but the loose-handling condition returned, ultimately dropping the blue and green Chevrolet one position and crossing the finish line in 12th for the second of three road course events on the Nationwide Series schedule. Sadler maintains the lead in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings by 13 points over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Start - 7

Finish - 12

Laps Led - 0

Points – 1

ELLIOTT SADLER QUOTE:

“We had a solid finish today but not what we were hoping for at Watkins Glen (International). Luke (Lambert, crew chief) and the Charter Chevrolet team had the strategy down and made good calls, we’re just not sure if we had a set of tires that didn’t work out as well for us or what on that last run. We’ll get back after it next week in Montreal.”

- Richard Childress Racing Press Release