In the Field: Elliott Sadler

I think it's safe to say that race fans, as well as racecar drivers, very often have some time on their hands. And with some of that time, they might play a little cards -- specifically, a little Texas Hold 'Em.

Well, six of us Nextel Cup drivers just launched what we think is the most interactive online Web site for race fans -- VLPClub.net.

It stands for VictoryLanePlayersClub.net, and six of us are in on it: me, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett and Jamie McMurray.

• Driver Page: Stats, videos, etc
• Store: Everything Elliott Sadler

In a nutshell, it's a Texas Hold 'Em site where you can go online and be able to play against us. All of us used to go online and play poker on other sites, so we decided to give the fans something they don't have already, a chance to come online and play poker against real racecar drivers.

All games are free to play. You can come on there for free and play and have a ball and enjoy the experience, just by signing up.

If you want to join and get what's called a "full access pass," which offers a lot more benefits, access to different events and a limited edition hat and T-shirt, you can do that for a small monthly membership fee.

You can win things like premium autographed merchandise, including autographed helmets and autographed driver's suits and all kinds of racing memorabilia by being good in the poker tournaments and stuff like that.

You'll also have chances to meet us, and have chances to play against us. We drivers have committed to at least one hour a week where we'll play on the site, so if people do well in different tournaments, they'll have a chance to play against us.

Some of us are a lot better poker players than the other ones. Like, Tony Stewart is a great player. He's been playing a long time. I've played a lot in person and never really messed with the Internet that much until about a year or two ago -- so I'm learning how that all works out.

We've been working with Kasey some, making him a little bit better at it, and Jamie McMurray. Those guys, you might be able to whip up a little on right now, but if you try to go after me and Tony and Dale Jr., we'll have something for you, because we've been playing a lot.

Tony Stewart's a player. I would say Tony plays more than anybody, and he's by far the best.

It's going to be great. Race fans can compete with each other to win these cool prizes, have the chance to play against us and even win trips to all sorts of cool sporting events, in VIP style, of course.

But it's a neat deal, I think. It doesn't cost the fan a dime to come on and just have fun with it. I think it's pretty neat because it just gives them a chance to do something else, and it gives them a little more access to their favorite drivers.

I think something like 74 million people play poker online and I'm sure some of them are NASCAR fans, so we're launching this site to promote that and try to give them that accessibility -- and it's going to be fun, too.

VLPClub.net has already signed up tons of players and they must love the game. The average person is spending more than an hour online enjoying the site, the club and of course, Texas Hold 'Em. (Continued)