Chat Transcript: Elliott Sadler

March 29, 2001
2:01 PM EST (1901 GMT)

Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Elliott Sadler!

[Elliott_Sadler]: Thanks for getting to talk to you! This is a special moment -- one that will always be etched in my mind! I finally had a chance to celebrate last night. It's great to get to talk to everyone today like this.

[Nacar_Host]: Congrats on a great run at Bristol, How does it feel to get your first Winston cup victory?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Feels great. It's something you never know if it will happen or not. Some guys get it pretty quick. Some guys have to wait a long time. NASCAR is so tough. You don't have to have the fastest car to win. It's a great feeling to do it at Bristol -- a great racetrack. There are so many fans there -- feels like they were right there with me. It's a great honor to get the Woods back into victory lane after eight years.

[Nacar_Host]: Elliott, what was the main difference on Sunday that allowed you to win your first race?

[Elliott_Sadler]: I think that we have had pretty good cars except Atlanta. We have been on the lead lap all year. We have been excited about the program. I have always raced well at Bristol. My best finish previous was 7th and it also came at Bristol. We hit the setup again. We know we had a good car. It was hard to pass. We got some track position and it worked out great. Pat Tryson made a great decision.

[Nacar_Host]: Congrats on the win! I'd like to know what were you thinking when you thought you had a tire going down?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Man that was big. I had just bumped Harvick coming off 4. Smoke came inside the car. I could smell it. All I did was knock my toe out. I thought it was flat. My heart came out from under me. I let off a little bit, and everything stayed the same. For a few laps there was a lot of drama going on. Sometimes, you wonder, what is going to go wrong? Fortunately, we were lucky enough.

[Nacar_Host]: Congratulations [Elliott_Sadler]! Great seeing 21&43 come across the line again. I am old fan of Woods brothers, Pettys and yours. How many bologna sandwiches did you eat?

[Elliott_Sadler]: *laughs* Actually, I have not had a bologna sandwich. I have not found a place in Martinsville that sells them. I will definitely get one at South Boston when I go there in two weeks to watch my cousin race.

[Nacar_Host]: Elliott, do you know how close your brother is to sealing up that cup deal with the old #60 team? Are you looking forward to possibly racing him again, this time in Cup?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Looking really forward to it. Hermie is going to run a few races this year. They have not made a formal announcement yet, so I will leave it at that. I would like to see him do well. He was testing at Martinsville. It was like we were teammates again.

[Nacar_Host]: Elliot, how do you think your car will do at Texas? Do you feel your setup can qualify well there? Thanks, and all the best!

[Elliott_Sadler]: Yeah, I actually do. Texas is probably my best track statistically. We run well there, like Bristol. Roush has given us a good motor. We want to back up that win! We want to show everyone that we are here to stay! We can do that at Texas. I am really looking forward to going there.

[Nacar_Host]: Glad to see all the new people win in the last 10 races. What do you think has caused this when it used to be only big teams won?

[Elliott_Sadler]: I'll tell you: It's the tires. They have changed the tire a lot. It's harder. They have made the tire where you can only use last year's notes. It gives new teams a chance to win. It's like a whole new playing field. That is why new drivers are doing well. Switching the tires makes it that much harder.

[Nacar_Host]: Elliott met you in Daytona this February at the trailer and I'm on your web page. Any new paint schemes for us collectors to look forward to this year?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Yes. In the Coca-Cola 600 - We have a great one. It's a US Air Force one. The suit looks awesome. I feel very fortunate to be with the US Air Force. When we won the race Sunday, they flew the Wood Brothers flag in front of the Pentagon. We have done a lot of great things with them.

[Nacar_Host]: What did Len and Eddie say to you about what the win meant to them?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Man, they were very pumped. Just as much as I was. Eddie said it was their biggest win ever. It meant so much to them. No one expected us to do anything. We are a single-car team not based in Charlotte. We lease our engines. Not many teams like that anymore. It makes it tough to win. When Motorcraft came on board -- they saw something in us. To get those guys to victory lane was huge to me and huge to Eddie and Len. They stand for so many good things and they do great things for our sponsors. It was great to just give back to them.

[Nacar_Host]: I heard that you carry a lucky coin with you to every race. Do you have any other pre race superstitions?

[Elliott_Sadler]: That's about it. I have never been in the lucky coin too much. As a kid racing go-karts, my dad put a quarter in my seat. A General gave me a four-star coin to me, and I keep that. I have never been really superstitious, but if things work for you, I am going to keep it.

[Nacar_Host]: You mentioned your cousin at South Boston. What do you think of Owen's chances to follow you and Hermie to the big time?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Well, Owen is just getting started. He is my age, and he has a lot of talent. His first time in late models, he got two top-10s. That is tough to do at South Boston. Owen is a great driver. He will win some races there and I am looking forward to being a part of it.

[Nacar_Host]: Elliott, what has your Uncle Bud taught you about racing on the short tracks?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Uncle Bud taught me a lot of things. He has been a big hero of mine. He taught me a lot of things inside and out of the car. I spent some time with him last night. He has meant so much for my family. If not for him, we would not be racing. He gave up racing to help my brother get started. He started us along, and we can never repay him. I am so glad to be kin to someone like that.

[Nacar_Host]: Where do you see your team going in the next two seasons? Will there ever be a multi car wood brothers team situation?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Well, I do not know. Maybe John can get up there with us. I would like to be a teammate of his. He is only 20 years old but he knows a lot. I think if we can find the right sponsors and the right situation, we would like to run two cars and I would like to be his teammate.

[Nacar_Host]: Elliott have you done any testing at any of the new tracks and what is your opinion of the new tracks?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Not yet. We have not tested either place, but we are going to test both places. Most of the Roush guys will go too. We have heard nothing but good things. We are looking forward to going there. Every time you open up a new speedway, good things will happen.

[Nacar_Host]: How did you celebrate your win at Bristol?

[Elliott_Sadler]: We did not start really until last night when I got home. I tested at Martinsville yesterday. We always eat supper on Tuesday nights at my dad's barn. We had a bunch of people over. Last night when I got home, the parking lot was full. There were hundreds of people there, lots of family and friends. That meant as much to me as being in victory lane. It was amazing. My big celebration was last night. Had a lot of guys I went to school with. It was a great night.

[Nacar_Host]: I know you are an avid hunter, but other than that, what do you do in the off-season?

[Elliott_Sadler]: I'll tell you, when it comes to winter, if it does not have much to do with a deer, I don't do much. I am a huge deer hunter, and that is about it. My hobbies are pretty limited. That does not sound very exciting, but I love hunting. It's something my dad and me share.

[Nacar_Host]: How would design your ideal Winston Cup Track?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Wow. My fave track is Bristol. Little half-mile. They always sell it out. If I were a promoter, would have to build one like that. High-banked. Those places never have problems getting people to watch races.

[Nacar_Host]: What are your thoughts on the extended racing season?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Makes it tough. I do not do anything else. I do not have any hobbies. So, the traveling is tough, but I feel more sorry for the guys on the team. They have families and they do not spend much time at home. It's neat that NASCAR expands to big markets but it will get to a point where we will have to cut it off.

[Nacar_Host]: How do you get yourself prepared before a race? Do you sit in a quiet area; listen to certain types of music.

[Elliott_Sadler]: I will make sure that about 48 hours before the race. I drink a lot of Gatorade especially when it gets hot. I eat a lot on Saturday night. I do not eat much Sunday morning and fill my body full of fluids.

[Nacar_Host]: Being from Virginia and racing with the Woods Brothers, how special was it to win in Bristol, right here in Virginia/Tennessee?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Man, very special. When they hired me, we talked about all this - that it would be great to be in victory lane. For a long time, it did not look like things would work out, but we got a new pit crew, we made a lot of changes, and it's working out. Pat Tryson has been a big part of the success. It means the world to everyone to make it to victory lane. I want to win at Charlotte -- that is my dream. A lot of good things are happening right now.

[Nacar_Host]: Do you think that winners in Winston Cup are looked at differently in the garage?

[Elliott_Sadler]: I do not know. I have always looked at everyone the same. When people get their first win, they look more comfortable in the garage. You feel better as a person. You get more confidence. I feel better right now than I have ever felt. Maybe people will look at my differently. I am not going to act different. Just want to race and have a good time.

[Nacar_Host]: Congratulations on Bristol, I wish you much success the rest of the season. What is your goal for the rest of this year?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Well, just to try to have some more good finishes. Be more consistent. Finish in the top15 in points. Give Motorcraft the showing they deserve. We want to try to stay up there and get all the points we can. We wanted to be the surprise team of the year. If we keep it up, we will be.

[Nacar_Host]: That's all the time Elliott has for us today. Thanks Elliott! What are you final thoughts?

[Elliott_Sadler]: Just thanks everyone! Especially the fans. The last few days have been unreal. I really appreciate it -- my family and I - we are still in awe. Being able to in front of all those fans -- no one can take that away. I look forward to seeing everyone!