The Questions with Elliot Sadler

NASCAR Driver

What was your welcome-to-NASCAR moment?
As a rookie in the Busch Series, in 1997, I met Dale Jarrett at Darlington [S.C.]. I was feeling lost. I asked him for help, and he put me in an ordinary rental car, took me around the track and gave me pointers. Dale's now one of my best friends.

Your most embarrassing moment?
After I signed with the Wood brothers, we came to Daytona for the '99 season. They said my driver's suits hadn't arrived, but they had a temporary suit to get me through testing. The suit did not fit and had a hideous design. I put it on and came out of the truck. After I got laughed at, Eddie and Len Wood told me it was a joke and handed me my real suit.

Your favorite off-day activity?
I golf every chance I get.

If I were commissioner for a day, I'd ... have a permanent traveling safety-support team for Nextel Cup events, instead of using different part-timers at each track.

Last Week
Sadler, 30, finished sixth on the road course at the Dodge/Save Mart 350. He's third in the Nextel Cup standings.

This Week
He's in Daytona for the Pepsi 400, in which he finished third in 2001.

COLOR PHOTO

ROB TRINGALI/SPORTSCHROME (SADLER HEAD SHOT

COLOR PHOTO

GEORGE TIEDEMANN/GT IMAGES (SADLER'S CAR)