DEEP DISH RACING: Elliott Sadler will make only his fourth-career NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Chicagoland Speedway when the series hits the track this weekend for the 14th race of 2011, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lot of experience at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval. Sadler has started in every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since the facility opened in 2001, and has made 2,604 laps at the track in a Sprint Cup Series car. Sadler holds a best Sprint Cup Series finish of ninth at the track, and has led eight laps in the series. In Sadler’s three previous Nationwide Series starts at Chicago, he has led three laps and has a best finish of 21st.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Chicagoland Speedway, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011, welcomes the Nationwide Series as the first of NASCAR’s top-three series to hit the track this season. In its 10-year history, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner Kevin Harvick has won two Nationwide Series events, taking the checkered flag in both 2007 and 2005 while racing for Richard Childress Racing. KHI, which also celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has never earned a win at Chicagoland Speedway. Sadler hopes to bring home his first win at the track, as well as the first win for the team this weekend in the Windy City.
ARE YOU A CODE SPOTTER? Last month kicked off the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) segment of the Nationwide Insurance Code Spotter Sweepstakes. Fans can play the Nationwide Insurance Code Spotter Sweepstakes for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Race Weekend Road Trip VIP Experience with Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 team. To play, enter the code KHINC now at CodeSpotter.com.
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 2 OneMain Financial team will unload chassis No. 070 this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Sadler most recently raced this chassis to a third-place finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. The team also unloaded this vehicle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway in California, earning 12th and fifth-place finishes, respectively.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet team started the Top Gear 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Saturday with momentum as the NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader. Sadler battled an ill-handling racecar throughout the 200-lap event before bringing home a 10th-place finish, earning his ninth top-10 finish of the season and maintaining his status as the series points leader.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Elliott Sadler
How do you feel heading into next week’s race at Chicagoland Speedway?
“I like Chicagoland. It’s shaped like a Kansas or a Charlotte or a Texas, which are some of my favorite tracks. Mile-and-a half tracks seem to be my strong suit, so Chicagoland should be a good race for us. I’ve run pretty well there in the past in a Cup car, and we really feel comfortable in our program on the mile-and-a-half ovals, so I’m always looking forward to those tracks.”
Fast Facts:
Elliott Sadler
Nationwide Series Statistics at
Chicagoland Speedway
Starts: 3
Wins: 0
Poles: 0
Top 5: 0
Top 10: 0
Laps Led: 3
Average Start: 20.3
Average Finish: 30.7
Race Info:
June 4, 2011
Chicagoland Speedway
STP 300
1.5-mile D-Shaped Oval
200 Laps/ 300 Miles
Broadcast Info:
TV: ESPN will broadcast live at 8:00 p.m. EST
Radio: MRN will broadcast live at
7:45 p.m. EST
Car Specs:
Chassis: 072
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing (ECR)