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Elliott Sadler Fights Handling Issues to Bring Home a 24th-Place Finish

07/31/11

CLERMONT, Ind. (July 31, 2011) — Elliott Sadler was behind the wheel of the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet Silverado for the second consecutive week as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series headed to Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Friday night. This was Sadler’s first Truck Series start at the short track and his sixth race in the series this season. The veteran driver qualified the No. 2 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet in the second position, but battled handling issues for the majority of the race which increased after a mid-race incident, leaving Sadler with a 24th-place finish. 

Just as quickly as the green flag brought the race to life, the first caution flag fell for a three-truck accident in turn one. As the field resumed green-flag racing, Sadler relayed to crew chief Bruce Cook that the truck was tight, and the tires were chattering as he raced around the 0.686-mile track. The unfavorable handling condition caused Sadler to slip back to the fifth position by lap 30. 

On lap 41 the second caution of the evening came out for a brief rain shower. The caution provided the No. 2 team the opportunity to make their first scheduled pit stop, allowing the KHI crew to work on the handling of Sadler’s truck. Cook called the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet down pit road on lap 52 for four tires, fuel and chassis adjustments. Sadler came into the pits in the fifth position, but the numerous adjustments throughout the stop left the Emporia, Va., native to restart 11th on lap 57. 

As the field returned to green-flag racing, Sadler worked his way toward the front of the field moving into the seventh position by lap 73. For the third time during the event, the yellow flag waved on lap 81 for an accident in turn four. Just before the caution fell, Sadler and the No. 22 truck made contact coming out of turn four, leaving the No. 2 machine with front-end damage. Cook called the driver down pit road for their second pit stop of the night to check the truck for damage and for the KHI crew to fill the Chevrolet with fuel.

Sadler resumed green-flag racing in the eighth spot. The driver fought to remain in the top 10 as the fourth and final caution of the race came on lap 91 for an accident in turn two. The No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet restarted in the 10th position, but was shuffled back to the 15th spot by lap 105 and continued to fall off the pace. Sadler informed Cook that the truck was now chattering in all areas of the track, making it increasingly difficult to control. The driver continued to fight for position but fell back in the pack and finished the race four laps down in the 24th position. 

The Truck Series will make their way to Pocono Raceway next Saturday, August 6 for the Good Sam Emergency Road Service 125 with KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick behind the wheel of the No. 2 Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Chevrolet Silverado. Catch the action live on SPEED at 1:00 p.m. ET and MRN at 12:45 p.m. ET.

Thoughts from the Driver:
“Man, what a tough night for the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet team. We had a good truck during practice, but with the weather and track changing we just couldn’t make the truck match the conditions. I was really hoping to get a win for the team and our sponsor, but we just couldn’t get the truck where we wanted it to be. It’s a tough night for the whole KHI team.” 

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