Elliott Sadler’s resurgence was to come in the Nationwide Series, wasn’t it?
Less than two hours after unveiling his decision to join Kevin Harvick Inc. next season and run for the Nationwide title, Sadler got a shot in the arm in the Sprint Cup Series.
Sadler’s lap Friday at 195.397mph easily gave him the pole for Sunday’s AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, his first in the series since 2006 and eighth of his career.
It was a big day for Sadler, who has been dealing with the uncertainty surrounding his Richard Petty Motorsports Cup program.
“For my guys to show up and give a car like they have this weekend shows the character of the race shop guys that I have at the No.19 car,” Sadler said. “My phone has been ringing off the hook since qualifying was over from my guys coming as the pit crew on Sunday. Charlotte Observer
“[Crew chief] Todd Parrott has done an amazing job. We showed up, we were fast off the truck, and it’s definitely a good start to our week.”
Roush Fenway Racing teammates Greg Biffle (193.653 mph) and Carl Edwards (193.646 mph) were one thousandth of a second apart in capturing the second and third starting positions for the eighth race in the Chase.
“I definitely have to give those guys credit and Elliott credit for the lap that he ran,” Edwards said. “It was just a spectacular lap. ... I was extremely surprised. My lap felt really, really fast. I went across the line, and I thought, ‘That’s the pole, for sure.’
“I waited for [crew chief] Bob [Osborne] to tell me the time, and I can’t believe he was two and a half tenths faster than us. That’s unbelievably fast.” NASCAR.com
The 35-year-old Sadler made his NASCAR debut in the Nationwide Series 15 years ago and won a Camping World Trucks series race for Harvick at Pocono in July. He also won a pole and finished third for Harvick’s team in a Nationwide race at Bristol in August.
‘‘I saw that picture on the wall and said, ‘You know what. We can do this,’‘’ Sadler said.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson qualified 17th for the race Sunday. He’s locked in a tight battle for the championship with Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick. Harvick is 26th on the starting grid, and Hamlin 30th. FOXSports.com
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: AAA Texas 500 at Texas - Race Line-Up
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