When Elliott Sadler announced mid-summer that he would not be back at Richard Petty Motorsports after this season, many asked what is next?
There haven’t been many rides available in the Cup series and as the season has wound down what rides were available quickly filled.
Sadler though has been driving Kevin Harvick Inc. cars and trucks this season and quickly fit in with the organization.
"As we went into our Truck Series program this year, right away there was good chemistry right off the bat between Elliott and myself and [wife and KHI co-owner] DeLana [Harvick] and all the guys on the race team and in the whole shop. He brings a very positive attitude," Kevin Harvick said.
It hasn’t been easy for Sadler in recent years. He hasn’t contended for many wins in the NSCS and more often than not found himself running mid pack and off the lead lap.
With his contract ending after this season; Sadler was ready to move on.
Success in KHI equipment was quick and Sadler was running up front and contending for wins from the very beginning. He won at Pocono and for Sadler it was one of the happiest moments he has had in racing in a long time.
"That was the happiest time in my life that I've had in a long, long time," Sadler said of the win at Pocono. "It was one of the biggest wins I've in my career -- because of all the things that have happened lately, plus the fact that I got to share it with my wife [Amanda] and my new son [Wyatt], who was also in Victory Lane with me that day.”
While some might think to go from the elite series to what many call the “minor leagues” of racing would be a bad thing.
Sadler needed a change. He needed a career reset and just step back and recharge. His NSCS career hasn’t gone the way he had hoped since his debut.
The decision to leave RPM came exactly when Sadler needed to move forward. There was nowhere to go at RPM. At KHI, Sadler is capable of winning races and titles.
Now he will work with an organization that has done it right from the get go. KHI has run the Camping World Truck Series and NNS. They have established themselves as weekly contenders and have won CWTS titles.
I wouldn’t rule out Sadler returning to the NSCS or KHI moving up to Cup series. Sadler will be very important if KHI makes the move to NSCS.
Until then Sadler is ready for 2011 and for KHI and Sadler the possibilities are endless.
"Kevin is looking for that first championship as a car owner in the Nationwide Series. Well, I'm looking for that first championship as a driver. So we're going to give it everything we've got. We're going to race hard for the next couple of years. I couldn't be happier right now."
Sadler is having fun again and with his future secure he can get back to the business of contending for wins and maybe win a title.
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