Carl Edwards (60) draws under Elliott Sadler on the final lap. Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Sadler upset, but plans no retaliation for bump

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Cinderella finish was all set up.

Elliott Sadler, in his home state, was leading in the final laps with a chance to get his first win at Richmond -- a track he says he's no good at -- in Friday night's Funai 250.

After the final caution period on Lap 247, Sadler discovered that he had a tire going down on his No. 90 Ford. Turns out, that would be the least of his problems.

On the race's final lap, Sadler and race winner Carl Edwards made hard, sustained contact in Turn 2 and Edwards passed Sadler for the lead and the victory.

How Edwards made that pass was a subject of considerable debate between the two following the race.

Edwards said Sadler's problems were of his own doing.

Final lapsEveryone flips after the final laps in Richmond Victory LaneCarl Edwards celebrates in Richmond victory lane Big wreckSeveral cars are involved in the wreck on Lap 43 Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"He washed up in the middle of the corner," Edwards said. "I got underneath him and in my eyes, he crowded me really hard.

"We bumped and the bumping continued off the corner. I sure was not trying to wreck him. I thought I could pass him without touching him.

"If I had it to do over again, I would do anything different."

Sadler's view was quite a bit different.

"All I told Carl was that I would not race him like that," Sadler said. "That's the only thing I said.

"There's no point in going over there and acting stupid. I told I never have (raced him like that) and that I've always tried to give him breaks, but now that I know you're going to race me like that, I kind of know how much leniency I have with him.

"I think he knew he couldn't pass me clean, so he kind of got into me off of two and got around. I would not have done that to him if I was second."

Both drivers will be on the track together Saturday in the Chevy American Revolution 400. Any chance of revenge?

"I think Elliott plans on a little retaliation later on. I hope he gets over that. I hope Elliott's not upset. I'm just here to win races."

Sadler said he plans no retaliation.

"I think I'm more of a man than he is," Sadler said of Edwards. "I'm not going to go to bed worried about this and talking about this.

"I owe it to my team to really race hard and I could really care less where he finishes or how he runs tomorrow. I'm not going to be looking for him.

"We have bigger fish to fry than to worry about him. That's the kind of attitude I'm going to have."