The final results may not have shown it but Elliott Sadler ran one of his best races of the season Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. After having to pit under green on lap 61 for a flat right rear put him 2 laps down Sadler made a charge unlike any we have seen out of the 19 car this season. Passing both high and low, pinching cars to the inside and sometimes taking it three wide he was posting lap times faster than the leaders.

--Hopes were still high for the 19 team and no adjustments were made during the first stop under caution at lap 125. Sadler asked if they thought they could help a bit of tightness in the center without hurting the rest of the corner and McDougall made a call for air pressure adjustments on the next stop. That would come on the caution at lap 210. The adjustments took away front grip but did not hurt as much as the speeding penalty that was received entering pit road. Starting at the end of the longest line and fighting an ill handling race car was more than could be overcome. After several stops the crew eventually got the car back in the track and Sadler raced the final 65 laps 3 laps down but never falling behind the 6th place car.

--This race had many positives but also showed points at which the 19 team is still lacking. Under caution with 75 to go Sadler let the crew know, “We have to work on our in-race adjustments and communications but this is the best car I have had in a while and it has been fun to drive”. Both McDougall and Brett Griffin, Sadler’s spotter, acknowledged that Sadler drove a great race and without the flat they would have had a top ten finish. Kasey Kahne had a great race and even though the finish doesn’t show it Elliott Sadler did as well. Maybe the Gillett Evernham teams can finish out the season with some momentum to carry into ‘08.