This is an update to:
Allmendinger To Earn Full-Time Ride At The Expense Of Elliott Sadler
This economic time likely is going to put additional pressure on car owners. Performance (and marketability) will be key. Certainly Elliott Sadler is someone fans can relate to with his common-man appearance. Yet, the fact is he didn’t win at Gillett Evernham Motorsports. He finished 24th in points a year after placing 25th in points for the team.
The thing with Allmendinger is people saw how he’s progressed. He had no shot his rookie year in 2007. A new driver to the sport with a new team. If you didn’t think that would lead to bad season than you don’t know much about NASCAR. But folks saw Allmendinger’s performances improve. It didn’t hurt that Red Bull got stronger as did the Toyota program in year 2. There’s potential with Allmendinger. Doesn’t mean he’ll fulfill it, just that he has it. Think of him as a highly touted recruit. Maybe he’ll meet expectations. Maybe not. It’s easy to get excited about something like that than someone you’ve competed with the past few years and seen what they can do.
It doesn’t mean Sadler won’t get a job. There’s possibilities out there. Not many but a few. The key is he’s going to have to prove himself at his next place and work hard to help build it up because it likely will be on the same level with GEM at the very best.
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