Sadler makes return to Xfinity Series at Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia native Elliott Sadler retired after last season, but will make his return to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series on Friday night at Richmond Raceway.
The 43-year-old Sadler will drive for Kaulig Racing in one of just two planned starts this season. He is also scheduled to race at Las Vegas in September.
“It’s good to be back. I was nervous this week. I’m not going to lie,” he said about racing for the first time since last season’s finale at Homestead. “I didn’t sleep much this week, wanting to come here, excited and nervous and all that good stuff to come back to my home track. … It was good to be back in my office for a little while.”
A native of Emporia, about 70 miles from Richmond, Sadler has raced 55 times on the 0.75-mile oval and never won.
He said he initially was concerned about how he would handle not racing, but has been fine.
“I’m as happy as I’ve ever been in my life. I tell my wife that all the time,” he said. “I definitely made the right decision, stepping away full-time.”
