 Sadler expects to depart RPM at season's end
2010-07-10 11:54:00
Joliet, IL (Sports Network) - Elliott Sadler said he does not plan to return to Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season. Sadler spoke with the media on Friday at Chicagoland Speedway. The 35-year-old driver said that he doesn't fit in the racing organization's future plans.
"At this moment, I do not expect at all to be back with this organization," he said. "I'm okay with that, because I'm a huge fan of Richard Petty's. He deserves to be a part of this sport for a long time. He brings a lot to this sport as far as the fans are concerned."
Sadler did not indicate what his plans are for the future, but said he recently has spoken with some teams.
"I feel really good in the area my career is going next year," he said. "I've had a lot of good talks with a couple of different car owners during the last two months. We'll see where it takes us. I should know something here in the next month or month and a half on what my future will be for next year."
Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Sadler signed a contract extension with RPM to remain as driver of the No.19 car through the remainder of this year.
He has three career Cup victories, but has not won since September 2004 when he drove for Robert Yates Racing. He has finished no better than 22nd in points since 2005.
Currently 28th in the standings, Sadler's best finish after 18 races this season is 17th, which came last month at Sonoma, CA. He will start 16th in Saturday's 400 mile race at Chicagoland.
Earlier this week, RPM named Todd Parrott as the new crew chief for Sadler's team. Parrott previously served as his crew chief at Yates from 2003-05. He led Sadler to a ninth-place finish in the inaugural championship Chase in '04.
|
|
|
© 2010 