Hermie Sadler moves into driver's seat

[antig24]

Hermie Sadler's foray into Nextel Cup ownership is over, but his career as a full-time driver in NASCAR's premier series is beginning.

 

After struggling through three part-time seasons with his cash-strapped crew, the Emporia native sold his team's assets to Peak Fitness yesterday. The Charlotte, N.Cbased fitness club chain will become the primary sponsor of the car with Sadler signed to drive for two seasons.

 

Depending on whether South Boston's Ward Burton finds a ride, the Nextel Cup Series could have two sets of siblings from Virginia in 2005. Sadler's younger brother, Elliott, has been driving Cup since 1999, winning twice and finishing ninth in the points last year for Robert Yates Racing.

 

Hermie Sadler ranked 44th in Cup, making 16 starts in addition to 30 in the Busch Series. The hectic schedule wore on the 36-year-old, who also handled day-to-day operations and sponsorship hunts for his underfunded cars.

 

"I made up my mind as 2004 wound down that I was going to focus more on just driving and not being responsible for everything on the team," said Sadler, who won't run Busch next year. "This opportunity seemed to come along at the right time."

 

Hermie Sadler's crew chief will be James Ince, who won a race with MBV Motorsports in 2002.

 

"James gives the team some instant credibility," Sadler said.