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Sadler Finishes 28th in Season Finale at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 17, 2008) - Elliott Sadler's No. 19 Hellmann's Dodge team battled to a hard fought 28th-place result Sunday in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
After starting in the 24th position, Sadler came over the radio on lap five to inform the team of a brake problem. Despite the issue, Sadler continued to race hard under green flag conditions until the first caution on lap 71.
The team then went to work trying to correct what they could under caution before returning to the racetrack one lap down in 30th position. However, the brake problems persisted throughout the day.
As the race continued the No. 19 Dodge team tried pit strategy to gain track position, taking two tires on several occasions.
"We gave it everything we had today," said Sadler. "The brake issue gave us some trouble today, but we kept trying new things to help us gain track position and bring home the best finish we could."
The No. 19 team battled all day to regain its lap, but narrowly missed the lucky dog as the first car a lap down when the caution came out on several occasions. Unable to regain the lap, the No. 19 team tried one last trick to regain position - conserving fuel toward the end of the race.
"We fought hard to try and regain the lap, but as the race was winding down we knew that some cars were going to push the fuel mileage window, so we conserved over the last 50 laps to try and be there at the end as other cars ran out. The strategy worked and we were able to regain about three spots right there at the end.
"I'm proud to have worked with this No. 19 team this season. This was my first season with (Crew Chief) Rodney (Childers) and we made some great strides throughout the year. We have a great group of guys that come to the racetrack every week and give it everything they have."
Sadler finished the season 24th in the driver point standings, 163 points outside the top-20.
Carl Edwards conserved enough fuel to win his ninth race of the season. Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top-five.
Jimmie Johnson clinched his record-tying third consecutive Sprint Cup Series championship by 69 points over Edwards.
