TRG Motorsports taps Hermie Sadler for Martinsville

Hermie Sadler to Drive TRG Motorsports Chevy at Martinsville

Mooresville, NC, (October 18, 2010) - TRG Motorsports will have Hermie Sadler behind the wheel of the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS at this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 to be run at Martinsville Speedway.

Hermie Sadler Sadler, NASCAR racer and SPEED Channel reporter, is no stranger to the tight Martinsville .526-mile layout, often called the paperclip. Sadler has 59 starts in the Sprint Cup Series, nine of those at Martinsville. He has a fourth place finish there in the Nationwide Series in 1993 and a fifth place in the Camping World Truck Series in 1995. The Emporia, Virginia native is ready to get back behind the wheel at his favorite short track.

"Martinsville is one of my home tracks here in the state of Virginia," Sadler said. "I have been going to races there since I was five years old. I have run late models, Nationwide Series and truck races there. If I had to pick one Sprint Cup race to do, it is going to be Martinsville."

Over nearly 22-years of racing there, Hermie has developed some secrets to racing Martinsville.

"It is very much a rhythm race track. A lot of people miss that about Martinsville. I talked to Jimmie Johnson a lot about running there and he said he finally got to running good there when he realized that you cannot over-drive the corners. I enjoy short track racing. I think at a short track the driver can definitely make the difference. The way you drive the car into the corners and off the corners is where the driver can make the difference. You also have to patient. The race is 500 laps, you are always in traffic and there is a lot of stuff going on. The driver has to be patient and pick his spots. You also have to keep the equipment under you until you get to about 100 laps and then go." Managing the equipment and brakes is key to having a good run at the shortest track on the Sprint Cup schedule.

"Don't over-drive the corners. Let the engine and the gear help slow the car down. Get off the brake as soon as possible getting into the corner is the main thing. A lot of guys try to go too quick and end up burning the brakes off the car fighting over one position. I've learned in the Cup races that I've run there that you can get off the brake quicker and let the car roll through the corner and save your stuff and have something for the end."

Kevin Buckler, team owner, is anxious to see what Sadler can do at Martinsville.

"This is going to be a really fun deal," Buckler said. "We were looking to hire a driver to run Martinsville that had a strong track record there and that can help us stay in the top 35 in owner's points. Hermie fits the bill perfectly. I had to wrestle him out of the SPEED booth to run this weekend. We have always done well kind of going off the reservation and finding that someone that others might have overlooked. I think Hermie is that guy, especially at Martinsville. Martinsville is a very tough short track and one that Hermie loves and is a local fan favorite. He has a genuine passion and understanding for the track. I can't wait to see what happens this Sunday."

-source: trg motorsports