Oh, did Gillett- Evernham get the fans worked up on this one! As most of you know by now, it’s looking like the unemployment line will have a new entry in the form of Elliott Sadler, replaced in the #19 ride by A.J. Allmendinger.
Sadler with his sunny disposition, rugged good looks and self-deprecating humor (“Guys, I think it’s ‘Rabbit Release’”) has always had a good following for a guy whose list of accomplishments in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing is relatively short. I kind of think of him as a “new school” Michael Waltrip- good for the sport, but not necessarily a guy who will make Jimmie Johnson quake in his fire suit.
I’m going a bit against the grain here, but I think the GEM/Petty whatever they’re called these days, made the right move. I really think A.J.’s got a load of potential. Allmendinger is crazy fast, a bit crazy in the head, and he’s got his whole career in front of him. It would appear that the guys who are having early success with the new generation car are the ones like Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Johnson who favor a loose race car. Allmendinger fits right in, an you can’t argue with the numbers. While auditioning in the #10 for the ousted Patrick Carpentier, Allmendinger outran Sadler down the home stretch of the 2008 season. He’s also shown an ability to bounce back from adversity. You may recall that Team Red Bull parked the pint-sized Californian for a handful of races to better the #84 team in the points standings in favor of veteran Mike Skinner for a handful of races, and undaunted, A.J. made the most of his second chance with a team still getting its footing.
Alongside teammates Kasey Kahne and Reed Sorenson, the former champ car ace projects a cool, youthful image for GEM. What remains to be seen is if Allmendinger can sell ice water in Hell as Sadler did make a good pitch man.
So what’s next for Elliott? It’s well-rumored he could take the #41 at Earnhardt- Ganassi if things break down with Bobby Labonte- but if I’m choosing between the two, there’s no way on God’s green Earth I’m taking Sadler over the 2000 champion. A lot of folks are watching the #77 situation with IRL stud Helio Castronoves facing the possibility of a new career pressing license plates. If “Sudden Sam” Hornish heads back to Indy car to take that vaunted ride, then there’d be a place for Sadler at Penske in that car.
Don’t get me wrong, Elliott can drive a car. He was the last driver to pilot the Wood Bros. #21 to a win, and frankly, I think it’s high time Bill Elliott stay retired. Maybe the #22’s a possibility if they get a sponsor and Dave Blaney doesn’t return. I’ll keep who it is for the moment to myself, but I can think of a few other drivers at the Cup level who ought to be replaced by Sadler. Elliott’s problems have been that he’s run most of his career with mid or lower level teams, and he’s also been one of those guys like David Reutimann or Jamie Mc Murray where making one false move has resulted in paying one hellacious price.
But I have another idea for Sadler…..
Put him in the TV broadcast booth! Like his brother Hermie, Elliott Sadler is a good fit for TV. The ladies think he’s easy on the eye, he’s articulate, and he has a nice inside view of today’s NASCAR that some of the old-timers at trackside don’t have. His Virginia accent adds a Southern charm without being completely incomprehensible. Working the booth doesn’t have the stress and demands of driving, so it will be a little easier on the engaged Sadler’s forthcoming marriage. AND in the event a ride opens up, TV contracts are usually pretty easy to get out of and it’s not like they’re going to build an entire show or race cast around Sadler at this juncture.
Ideally, if it were my call, if I’m the gang over at Wood Brothers, I’d bring Elliott over to run that part-time schedule for the #21, and Sadler could work on TV when he’s not racing.
It looks like a win-win to me.
(Photo courtesy of shegder23 on flickr.com creative commons. More of her work may be found at flickr)
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with you JimmyMac. For the time being that seems to be Elliots best move. Drive the #21 for the Wood Bros and be a commentator part time for both.
Well well well it seems to me good ole boy sadler has gotten some karma.remember it was sadler who BEHIND the scenes worked out a deal with Yates in APRIL 2002 and now AJ has turned the tables I say tough luck bud!
Your thoughts are most intelligent and very easy with which to agree. Sadler’s good days of racing appear behind him, and he seems to have lost his competitve edge.
Television work may be an option, but honestly, this fan is uncertain of Sadler’s continued success in that venue. His problem appears to stem from an obvious lack of intellectual acumen. His brother got ” a semblence of the smarts” and Elliott got the gorgeous looks…..that may fade with time.
One thing for sure….Elliott Sadler has had more opportunities to succeed in his life than most people. Regrettably, he did not make the most of his chances, rather chosing to allow others to lead him, make decisions for him, tell him he was wonderful and enable him to wallow in mediocrity….never being hungry or facing the need to achieve or starve.
Perhaps a break ……would be good for him, as he begins a new chapter in his life as a married man. If he reevaluates his goals and makes a few changes and adjustments in his values, he may find himself ready to reemerge upon the NASCAR scene with viable offerings.
As for now, Sadler is trouble and troubled. No team in its right mind would want to take him or his nasty baggage on board.
I think we should let the Wood’s brothers decide who is going to drive their car-Bill Elliot didn’t go to them looking for a ride.
Elliot was @ Yates when Dale J was winning & running well, @ GEM when Kasey K was winning & running well, yet you think it was all the equipments fault he runs mid/rear pack? His driving ability is above M Waltrip,[but that includes most people] neither is “needed” in the sport just because they can peddle some cr*p in a driver’s suit. With the current state of things, there should be some “start & park” team that can use his services, as long as he stays out of traffic or the wall long enough to get “parked” without damage.
he’s just another smooth talking millionaire also ran. a field filler who has a history of biting the hands that feed him. now he wants 2 years pay for nothing.
Why was AJ ‘auditioning’? Gillett signed Elliott Sadler to a contract extention thru 2010 this past season (May 2008). Gillett extended Sadler’s contract in the middle of the 2008 season. Gillett may have effectively killed Sadler’s career by dropping him in December.
I hope Kasey Kahne and the remaining Gillett employees realize their owners words and contracts aren’t worth the paper they are written on.
George Gillett showed that he has no ethics whatsoever.
Being a fan of Elliott’s I disagree somewhat with what is being said about him. Noone as of yet knows all the facts involved in this case as the parties involved have yet to speak out. As a fan (the one’s who support/purchase driver items/sponsor items), you would believe a contract extension means a driver will have a ride at least through the majority of his contract. I don’t believe in 5 races that AJ has proven himself and as far as performing better then Sadler he performed better then Kahne in those 5 races. Had Elliott been released or at least told about the possibility of being released, he would have at least had an opportunity to secure a ride for the 2009 season. In a normal season I usually attend about 3-4 races a year and due to the disregard for it’s fans, I along with several others will opt out of attending races or purchasing merchandise to keep putting money into the pockets of those who keep downplaying the importance of all fans of Nascar not just fans of the most popular drivers.
I agree. It’s time for Bill Elliot to give it up. He’s a nice man, but I really resent his getting in races because of being an ex-champion. He often prevents a driver,who is a lot more interesting to watch, getting in the race. I’m sorry, but he generates as much excitement as a wet noodle.
Bill has had MUCH more success than Sadler! He is simply doing a favor for the Woods. When they call you for your advice, Sadler will probably be a three-time champion and you can recommend him then.
Maybe if Sadler would have stayed with the Wood Brothers
they could have kept thier sponsors and he could of kept his ride.He would have never been let go my the Woods like he was by GEM.
I like both AJ and Elliott. What I don’t understand is why Sorrenson still has a ride? Was it the fact that he works cheap? I have read that gillett is in trouble financially; maybe he is the next Bobby Ginn. Elliott may end up with the best of the deal;I hope he takes Gillette for every penny he can. I would also wish they would do away with the past champion provisional or at least limit it to one.
Who was the last guy to get fired and then sue his boss? Oh yeah, Jeremey Mayfield. I can understand Sadler’s frustration getting fired, but suing a car owner is now way to ingratiate yourself with future employers. I know its a lot of money, but perhaps not so much when compared to future earnings.
I think GEM was completely overrun by morons and signing Sadler to that contract proved it. Its not like Roush signing McMurray a year before his contract was up: in that case, McMurray was driving for someone else and they wanted to grab him before someone else did. In GEM’s case, they already had Sadler under contract: he wasn’t going anywhere.
As soon as they put Allmendinger in that car I knew he was there to stay. I just figured they’d try to get out of Sorensen’s contract. Like Sabates said, Sorensen is probably as good as he’s ever going to get.
I think that we are going to see GEM, or Richard Petty Motorsports or whatever they’re going to call it, get in some real trouble. I’ve read where Gillette couldn’t get a loan recently. That tells me two things: first, they don’t have a ton of money in the bank and second, they may have some real financial concerns. So the question is, Did Richard Petty allign himself with another sinking ship?
What a joke. Bobby Labonte is the only one who’ll come out of this whole mess smelling like roses.
There is NO Comparison between Elliott Sadler and Bill Elliott. Awesome Bill is a proven champ and 16 time most popular driver Sadler is a never was never will be driver. Bill is doing a favor for the woods he didnt ask them for a ride. they asked him. To the comment on Bill keeping a more interesting driver from getting in the race= HELLO He has been Qual on TIME!
bill elliott is doing fine with a good car he could still win sadler is ok too the 9 car is the only good car in the stable the 10 and 19 need better people to fix that not keep changing drivers the team has to click to work look at what bill did in the 9 with mike ford long time driver crew chief a word to gillette try to fix the team and quit blameing drivers !
Could it be that AJ was just willing to work for less than Sadler. When the sponsorship dollars aren’t there the driver salary becomes an issue.
Allmendinger working for less than Sadler isn’t the reason. Gillette just signed Sadler to a new 3 year deal. Even if Allmendinger worked for a dollar a year it is still gonna cost more because GEM will have to pay Sadler’s base salary as agreed to in the new contract.
Gillette is looking more and more like Bobby Ginn all the time.
Tim is right. Its time owners stop blaming drivers and start taking a good look in the mirror. Perfect example is Petty Enterprises. They’ve been blaming poor performance of the 45 car on Kyle… but they put McCumbee in the car and if not for rain, he’d have missed almost every race. His finishes were as bad as or worse than Kyle’s except for one. They put Terry Labonte in the car and except for one good qualifying run, his starts and finishes were about the same as Kyle. His one great start lasted about three laps and then he was back in the last third of the field. Same goes with other teams like the Wood Brothers and even Red Bull. ITS NOT THE DRIVER!! Its what they’re giving the driver. If it was all the driver’s fault, how do you explain Bobby Labonte being rarely if ever competitive?
You put Bobby Labonte and Kyle Petty in the 48 and 24 cars and put Gordon and Johnson in the 43 and 45 and you’ll see my point.