Sadler knew losing GEM No. 19 ride was possible

Elliott Sadler said Wednesday that he knew losing his ride in the No. 19 Dodge this season was a possibility and that Gillett Evernham Motorsports gave him permission to talk to other organizations.

"They were looking to see what their options were ... they were very up front with me, they gave me a lot of information to work with," Sadler said.

Sadler soap opera

• Allmendinger in, Sadler out
• Sadler plans to sue GEM
• GEM says Sadler in No. 19
• Breeze: Stats merit release

Still, Sadler said he sought legal action for his own protection and the protection of his sponsors when it was rumored he was being replaced.

"I can sit here and tell you and be very honest with you when it comes to contract and language and stuff that are on them, I'm not the smartest guy in the world," Sadler said. "When you're dealing with as many people as we are dealing with, it became bigger than Elliott Sadler."

Rumored over the holidays that he would be replaced by A.J. Allmendinger, Sadler and his attorney responded by threatening to file an injunction that would keep him in the car. His attorney gave GEM notice of intent to file a lawsuit for breach of the driver's contract that runs through 2010 as well as intent to seek punitive damages.

By Jan. 9, GEM executives announced that Sadler would remain in the No. 19 this season and said they have set aside their differences with Sadler.

"We've all been a part of this business long enough to know that performance is the bottom line," Sadler said. "We sat down in meetings, some good and some bad, but at the end of the day someone has to be held accountable for what we put on the track each and every Sunday."

Sadler also said the team never told him he was being replaced. He said at the end of last season both sides were in discussions on how to improve the performance of the No. 19 team and that a driver change was one of several options.

But Sadler said it's not fair to say his team "didn't want him."

"They wanted the best situation to succeed," he said.

Moving forward, Sadler said the experience has given him an opportunity to grow and he admits that he needs to step up his performance.

"It was definitely tough, but it made me better and made us a stronger family having this fight," he said. "Man, now we feel like our back is against the wall. We have a lot of motivation and a lot to prove. That is why we are so eager to get this season started."

As for Allmendinger, Sadler said he has yet to have a conversation with the driver, who as of now will run at least eight races in GEM's No. 10 entry. But Sadler said he has no hard feelings toward Allmendinger.

Sadler said he is optimistic about the Daytona 500 and reuniting with former crew chief Kevin Buskirk, who was Sadler's team engineer when he won two races in 2004 at Robert Yates Racing.

Sadler said Buskirk believes in him and the learning curve will be much smaller when the new season starts with him on the pit box.

"I really begged and pushed to have Kevin Buskirk on my team," Sadler said. "Bringing him on board was just a smart decision. And I tell you, I feel like a new man since this happened. We want to go out and shock the world -- make people pay attention to the No. 19. And [Buskirk] will work day and night to make that happen."

Sadler joined Evernham Motorsports midway through the 2006 season after leaving Robert Yates Racing. He posted a top-10 finish in his first race, but has had only 11 top-10s in the past 85 starts.

He has three wins in 357 starts with 18 top-five finishes and 63 top-10s.

At the time he signed his extension with GEM last season, Sadler said, "This is the place where I want to race. I think what we are building here is special and something other drivers and crew members envy."