Sadler heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway

Elliott Sadler, Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

LABOR DAY WEEKEND THROWDOWN: Elliott Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet team head south for a Labor Day Weekend throwdown under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Saturday night race at the 1.54-mile quad oval marks the NASCAR Nationwide Series only visit of the year to the track with eight races remaining in the season.

GEORGIA ON HIS MIND: Sadler has made a total of five Nationwide Series starts with two top-10 finishes, earning a best finish of eighth in 2005. The Emporia, Va., driver has also made 24 starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in his career, earning three top 10s with a best finish of sixth in 2003.

KHI MAKING MOVES IN ATL: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) has made 10 Nationwide Series starts at the intermediate track, and the organization has collected four top-five and five top-10 finishes. Co-owner Kevin Harvick earned the one win for KHI at the track in 2009.

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 2 OneMain Financial team prepared chassis No. 072 for the event at Atlanta. This is the fourth time this season the No. 2 team utilized this chassis with a best finish of fifth at Texas Motor Speedway in April. The team also collected a 10th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May and an eighth-place finish in June at Michigan International Speedway with this chassis.

MEET ELLIOTT SADLER: Fans will have the opportunity to meet Sadler and see the OneMain Financial Chevrolet on Thursday, Sept. 1. From 3-4 p.m., fans can come to the OneMain Financial branch in Griffin, Ga., at 1525 N. Expressway to meet Sadler, get an autograph or a photo by the showcar.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Sadler and the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet team notched another top-10 finish for the season at Bristol Motor Speedway last Friday night. Under the lights at BMS, Sadler remained consistent throughout the race to bring home an eighth-place finish.

TO THE POINT: Sadler remains in the second position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver's Point Standings. After the solid performance at Bristol, Sadler picked up three points, moving him within five markers of leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Elliott Sadler

How do you feel heading into this week's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway? "Atlanta is one of my favorite race tracks because it is so slick. It is a driver's race track. The tires wear out quickly and there are a lot of bumps on the track. You can run bottom, middle or top, and it just gives the driver a lot of options, which makes it a great place to race. Labor Day weekend to race fans has always been a huge race weekend. It was at Darlington for so many years, and then moved to California where I was lucky enough to win the first-ever Labor Day weekend race at Auto Club Speedway. Now it is back in Atlanta. It will be my first time going back to Atlanta in a Nationwide car in a long time, so I'm anticipating a great weekend."

MOST POPULAR DRIVER: Sadler is eligible for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award. Fans can vote for Sadler now through November 17 on www.NASCARNationwideSeries.com.