Elliot Sadler wants out

[Elwood]

From NASCAR.com

 

The Buzz: May 1, 2002

May 1, 2002

9:22 AM EDT (1322 GMT)

 

 

Word around some shops is that Elliott Sadler has asked for a release from his contract from the No. 21 Motorcraft Wood Brothers Ford.

 

Sadler has supposedly been approached by several teams and wants out of the contract he has had with the team since 1999 to explore those options.

 

One of the teams rumored to be interested in Sadler is Dale Earnhardt Inc., the home of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Steve Park and Michael Waltrip.

 

Kenny Wallace, who filled in for the Park after his Darlington injuries last September, is still under contract to DEI as well.

 

Sadler has never driven for any Winston Cup team except Wood Brothers. He captured the Bristol spring race in 2001 and has scored a pair of second-place finishes in 2002, including a runner-up run in the Daytona 500.

 

 

I can't imagine DEI wanting him, unless it was for BGN and why would he want that.  They have 3 good drivers, and another under contract who they can't really afford to field a car for.  I wonder who else wants him.  Or if any of it is true.

[gmcjoe]

I heard that too. Sadler is a good driver, but DEI seems full up right now. This will be interesting to follow...

[Kansas Kid]

I haven't heard that, but honestly I can see it happening.  I don't know when Waltrip's contract is up, but even last year there was rumors of him not being around much longer.  Nothing against Michael because I like him, but I really like Elliot Sadler.  Not to mention that he is able to contend in a car that really isn't up to par with the top level teams.  I can see DEI wanting 3 young drivers who have already won races.

 

Of course there has also been rumors of DEI adding some more Winston Cup teams over the last year.  No telling what really is going to happen, but it will be interesting to watch.

[Elwood]

Hard to tell, but I would hope that if DEI was gonna add another car it would be with Kenny Wallace, possibly in conjuction with Innovative Motorsports, his BGN team.  Or put him in the 15 if Waltrip leaves.     ???

[antig24]

I hope dei doesn't sign him, it sounds like we're in for a suprise next year at dei with all these rumors.

[SilveradoWV]

Hard to tell, the DEI driver I wouldnt mind leaving is Steve Park, I like Jr, Michael, and Kenny more than Steve although I have nothing against Steve, I mean he was the original DEI. But I just feel like Michael should stay because Dale Sr picked him, I guess it is hard to explain, although Michael didnt have a great season last year except for daytona, it still seems like he should be there at DEI.

[Elwood]

I think Waltrip should stay too.  And although Park is my least favorite of the three I don't want him to leave.  I like him there.   AND Dale Sr. picked him too.

 

As a matter of fact I saw the interview with Park the other day when he was telling the story of how Dale called him about the job and left a message on his machine.  Steve thought it was somebody joking around and didn't call back.  Dale called him a 2nd time and wasn't nearly as nice this time.

 

I say keep it how it is except maybe start a new team with Kenny.  Mikey's not doing too bad no need for him to go.

[SilveradoWV]

Well said, I didnt want Steve to leave either, but he is least favorite like you said! And I want Kenny in there because it just seems like he should be next in line, it wouldnt be nice to bring in someone like Elliot but I like Elliot too.

[General Lee 01]

I'm sure some of the folks who want him have drivers who are fixing to retire soon.

 

 

I'm suprised no one has thrown this idea into it but i guess I'll start.

 

My guess would be that maybe RCR is fixin' to drop Robby Gordon or Jeff Green. That would be very logical.

 

My top guesses for where he'll fall (If this rumor is true) is RCR, Roush (Kinda no point to that though, since he's technically driving a 5th Roush car), Robert Yates (Ricky Rudd to retire?), or Ray Evernham (Jeremy Mayfield and Casey Atwood aren't really doing good enough to be expected to stay with that team for long).

[Kansas Kid]

Well, here is my thinking on this deal.  DEI is in the business of running race teams.  And the purpose of a race team is to win races and run up front consistently.  Dale Jr has showed the ability to do this, as he finished in the top 10 in points last year, and is collecting lots of top 5's this year.  Steve Park was a top 10 in points team up until the wreck at Darlington last fall.  Until Nascar got rid of the rubber bumpers early last year, that team was in the top 5 almost every race.  I'd expect him to be back in form by late this year.  It's also safe to say that Micheals performance is not up to par with what the other two teams have shown, except for a few specific races.  

 

If they don't want a new driver for next year, I certainly won't complain.  But if they do, the 15 team is the one that needs to change.  As for Kenny Wallace, I suspect he will have a WC ride next year regardless of what DEI does.  (hopefully replacing Jeff Green lol)

 

But until later in the year, its all speculation....

[General Lee 01]

Yeah, it's way too early for silly Season Talk.

[Elwood]

KW does have a ride next seaon.  With his BGN team, they're supposedly moving to WC full-time next year.  I just don't kow if DEI is helping them out, like they are for the few races their running this year in WC.

 

Michael is 16th ni points right now.  That's higher than Elliot Sadler (25), Harvick (31), Jeff Green (24), Bobby Labonte (20), Spencer (21), Mayfield (23), and 33 other drivers.  He's only 38 points out of the top 15, and 153 out of the top 10 with over half the seaon left to go.  And he's had some really good finishes.

 

Park hasn't proven yet that he can return to previous form.  I would think that a good business decision would be to leave everything alone until at least after next year as long as Waltrip continues on the pace he's on.  That gives them 2 consistent cars (8 & 15) and gives Park more than part of one season to see if he's back up to the level he was before.

[gmcjoe]

http://www.nascar.com/2002....ex.html

 

By Marty Smith and Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive

May 1, 2002

4:08 PM EDT (2008 GMT)

 

CONCORD, N.C. -- Elliott Sadler confirmed Wednesday afternoon that he has asked Wood Brothers Racing for a release from his contract, starting at the end of the 2002 season, so that he might begin pursuing other options for 2003.

 

 

Elliott Sadler Credit: Autostock/NASCAR Images

Sadler was adamant about the falsity of reports that he asked for an immediate release, and said that, barring extenuating circumstances, he'll be in the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford for the remainder of the year.

 

"The only official thing right now is that, Sunday night, I did ask for my release from the Wood Brothers so that I can pursue other options for the 2003 season," Sadler said. "All that other stuff about (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) or anyone else is way too premature at this point."

 

Wood Brothers Racing declined comment.

 

Ty Norris, DEI executive vice president, seconded Sadler's statement. He also suggested that May will be a pivotal month in DEI's future.

 

"There's nothing really to say at this point," Norris said. "We have talked to Elliott and we have talked to other drivers as well -- including our own. We will make a lot of decisions about the face of DEI's future by the end of May."

 

Sadler has driven for Eddie and Len Wood his entire Winston Cup career, which began in 1999. Last season, he won the spring event at Bristol Motor Speedway, marking his only career victory and the first for Wood Brothers in eight years.

[antig24]

This is getting crazy, I can't wait till we get this all figured out.

[Elwood]

Sadler looking at options for 2003

By HANK KURZ Jr.

AP Sports Writer

May 2, 2002

 

 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Elliott Sadler has asked to be released from his contract with Wood Brothers Racing team at the end of this season, and he might get his wish.

 

``They will let me have my release if it benefits both halves, not only them but also me,'' Sadler said Thursday at Richmond International Raceway, site of Saturday night's Pontiac Excitement 400.

 

The 27-year-old Sadler denies he's heading to Dale Earnhardt Inc. or has already made a deal with another Winston Cup team for next season. He admitted he's talked to DEI and others, but said nothing is set.

 

Sadler gave the team its first victory since 1993 when he earned his first career win last year in Bristol, Tenn. The victory was one of just two top-10 runs for Sadler.

 

This season, Sadler has finished second in the Daytona 500 and in Darlington, S.C. He ranks 25th in points.

 

Sadler said he's thought about whether he was right for the Wood Brothers for some time, so he wanted to be wise in his approach to a possible move.

 

On Sunday night in California, after consulting with another driver who has been in a similar situation, Sadler met with team co-owner Eddie Wood in what he described as an amicable talk and asked for his release.

 

Wood, reached at his shop in Stuart, referred reporters to a statement released by the team that said, ``We are working toward a solution that will satisfy both Elliott Sadler and Wood Brothers Racing.''

 

Wood said he preferred not to comment further.

 

Sadler said he made his feelings known to prevent the team from being blindsided later in the year. He and the team said Sadler will continue to drive the No. 21 Ford for the 26 races remaining this season.

 

``This is just a better way of doing it, to give them plenty of time, to give me plenty of time,'' Sadler said. ``I don't believe in sticking anybody with anything.''

 

The 27-year-old Virginian thinks all parties might benefit from the change after four largely disappointing seasons together left him wondering if there was something in the team chemistry that just didn't work.

 

``Sometimes you need a change to spark something,'' Sadler said.

Ty Norris, executive director of motorsports for DEI, admitted Sadler was one of several drivers the organization has spoken to about 2003.

 

The contracts of drivers Steve Park and Michael Waltrip expire at the end of this with DEI, and Norris said the company is exploring all options, which include staying with their current drivers.

 

``Certainly, Elliott is a driver we would be interested in talking to just like many, many teams would be,'' Norris said. ``But the idea or rumor that he is going to be in one of our cars at any minute is just not true.''

 

For now, Sadler is focusing on running well the rest of the season and giving the Wood Brothers another highlight or two before his departure.

 

Leaving, he said, will be bittersweet.

 

``They gave me a break in Winston Cup racing, but I have not done the job I think I needed to do for them,'' Sadler said. ``I think I should move on so maybe they can get better chemistry with somebody else.''

 

His victory in Bristol was the 97th for the Wood Brothers, a pioneer NASCAR team once dominant with drivers such as David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Neil Bonnett.

 

 

I'm hoping that the comment about keeping surrent drivers is what happens.  With maybe an addition of a team in conjunction with KW's team.