NASCAR's Elliott Sadler - From Boy to Superstar

Born on April 30th, 1975 in Emporia Virginia Elliotat Myrtle Beach Speedway, Gateway International
William Barnes Sadler started his career young. ByRaceway and his attempt at qualifying for the
the time he was 8, Sadler would have alreadyUAW-GM Quality 500 cup. He did, however make
brought home 200 wins, the 1984 Virginia Statehis Cup debut at the Charlotte Motor Speedway
Karting Championship, and the North Carolina Goldin 1998 but finished at 42nd because of an engine
Cup in 1992. When he reached age 14, Sadler wasfailure.
named runner-up for the World KartingAfter his earlier stint in those years, Sadler went
Association title. It was already becoming clearerinto the Cup Series full force in 1999. He finished
to the Sadler family that the young Sadler had aat tenth at the Texas Motor Speedway, 24th in
tremendous amount of talent in racing and duringpoints and was runner up for the Rookie of the
his youth, he focused more on Late Model stockYear honors. He later finished fifth during the
car divisions.Busch Series where he filled in for Andy Santerre.
This Bon Jovi fan was already hot on the trail atThe next year was not as great for him as he
the Winston Racing Series at age 18 which laterdropped to 29th spot in points. In 2001 however,
on went on to race full time the same year. AfterSadler won his first career cup race at Bristol. He
he won his first victory, he went on with a blazehas since gone on to win the pole at Darlington
of glory with the track champion title at theRaceway and Talladega Superspeedway. The
South Boston Speedway with 13 wins under hisNext season, he won again at Texas Motor
belt during that time. All the while, Sadler was stillSpeedway and California Speedway.
studying at the James Madison University inThe avid hunter who also acts as a hunting guide
Virginia as well. This showed the budding driver'sduring the off season in Virginia has a bumpy ride
commitment to not only racing but to his booksthroughout the years 2005 till now. He won
as well. It's a little known fact that Sadler wasanother pole at Talladega in '06 with the 19th spot
actually offered 18 small-college scholarships butin points. He had seven Busch starts and his best
he turned them down for the James Madisonfinish was his second place at Richmond. In 2007,
University where he was to play basketball forSadler was counted among some of the other
Charles Driesell. However an injury to his kneedrivers who were involved in a cheating scandal
refrained him from doing so.during the Daytona 500.
Sadler took off in 1995 with a bang as he madeSadler who was a big athlete during his younger
his Busch Series debut at South Boston; he wentdays now has 38 hunting dogs and is currently
on to race at the Richmond Internationalengaged to Amanda Prince. When asked what he
Raceway where he came in 24th. In 1196, hewould be doing if he wasn't driving, the cheeky
joined the #29 WCW Chevy with Diamond RidgeVirginian replied that he would a country music
Motorsports. He came in fifth at the Miami-Dadesinger. Sadler also credits his favorite racers, Dale
Homestead Motorsports Complex and finishedJarrett and Mark Martin as his mentors on the
35th in points that year. His break came in 1997race track. He claims to have learned a lot from
when he won his first career race at Nazareththem and has inherited wisdom beyond his years.
Speedway which was then followed up with wins