Elliott Sadler takes a tumble down the frontstretch on the final lap of the EA Sports 500. Credit: Autostock

Sadler takes another Talladega tumble

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Elliott Sadler is in love with Daytona. It loves him back. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about Talladega.

For the second straight EA Sports 500, Sadler flipped his Ford at Talladega. His accident in 2003 was more frightening -- he flipped multiple times, which earned him a trip to the hospital and a visit with the needles he hates with a passion.

Sadler didn't have to deal with any needles this time, but the wreck cost him at least 10 valuable spots on the track.

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"I think if I hadn't flipped or wrecked we might have been 11th or 12th," said Sadler, who wound up 22nd. "It could have been a lot worse."

That's because Sadler wasn't even sure he'd finish the race. Sadler has completed every single Nextel Cup event this year, which is the main reason he's fighting for the title after struggling mightily with Robert Yates Racing in 2003.

Sadler's Ford developed a battery problem mid-race and that sent his engine's temperature soaring to 260 degrees. He pitted on Lap 143 and had to shut his motor off so the team could add water and get the temperature down.

Sadler got the temperature back down to 170 degrees. He rallied during the last round of pit stops and seemed poised to get a top-10, but he ran into the back of Ward Burton on the final lap, sending him flipping through the front stretch grass.

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"That wasn't half as bad as last year," Sadler said. "I was making a run there at the end, trying to get past the 0 and he really blocked me pretty hard, hit him too hard, turned my front end to the left and spun out.

"It took off, I said 'Oh Lord, not this again.'"

Sadler entered the Talladega event with a ton of confidence after qualifying sixth on Friday thanks to Yates' vastly improved restrictor-plate engine program.

Sadler entered Talladega just 96 points behind leader Dale Earnhardt Jr., but fell to 166 back with Earnhardt's victory.

"I am sure we lost a lot of points today, but we'll try to go get them and win some races," Sadler said. "For everything we went through today, that was a blessing."

Sadler can only hope next year will be better.

"I want to try to end a race at Talladega one year on all four tires," he said.