BUSCH: Hermie Sadler to Drive for Ron Parker in 1999

Sadler to drive for Parker in 1999

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 10, 1998) Seven-year NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division veteran Hermie Sadler, 29, will drive Ron Parker's No. 72 Detroit Gasket Chevrolets on the circuit in 1999. Ron Parker, owner/president of Parker Racing, Inc., announced the Sadler signing Saturday. Sadler, a native of Emporia, Va., will begin driving Parker's red and black car at the NAPA Auto Parts 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13, 1999. "When I decided to explore other options and heard that Ron Parker may plan to do the same, I called him immediately," said Sadler, who will finish this season driving Gary Bechtel's No. 29 DeWalt Tools Chevrolet for Diamond Ridge Motorsports. "We both agreed to get the Charlotte race behind us first before we started talking, which we did -- but just barely! Ron and Becky invited me, as well as my wife (Angie) and the children (Cora and Halie) to their home Sunday morning right after our Charlotte race. "We just had casual discussions and got to know each other. It was very comfortable for me and my family, so the discussions continued and by week's end, we had agreed to a contract." Sadler reportedly was concerned since DeWalt had earlier announced it was leaving Diamond Ridge, ultimately to join Reiser Enterprises for 1999; while Diamond Ridge's other NASCAR Busch Series operation lost its Phillips 66 sponsorship to Team 34. Bechtel earlier this season had to shut down his NASCAR Winston Cup Series operation due to lack of a primary sponsor and disappointing performance. "I feel with Ron's 10 years of experience as an owner and the fact that his companies (Detroit Gasket and MGM Brakes) also serve as sponsors, is a perfect situation as far as stability," Sadler said of the team, which has one series victory, with driver Tracy Leslie. "His crew has been together for several years and the chemistry is great in the Parker Racing shop. I feel very fortunate to be given this opportunity and know that Ron Parker and this solid crew can provide me the means to get back to winning races again. Ron Parker and his companies deserve a championship after all these years and I hope to be the driver to hand it to him and his team." "As I thought over a list of drivers that I wished were available, Hermie Sadler was among those at the top of the list. When he called to let me know he had asked to be released so he could consider other opportunities, little did he know he was very much on my short list. To secure a driver as young as Hermie with several years experience in the Busch Series is just unheard of. "He has something like 170 starts in our series and is a proven winner who drives smart, takes care of his equipment and is there at the end. I have been in this sport for about 13 years as a sponsor and 10 years as a combination owner/sponsor of my own team. That's long enough to know a driver like Hermie Sadler only comes along once in a lifetime. He's a successful businessman in addition to being a very competitive driver, so we share many of the same philosophies. I really feel that the combination of Hermie Sadler and my experienced team will take us to the winner's circle many times in 1999 and put this team back in the hunt for the championship. "This has been a popular decision with my team, our employees and I'm sure with all our supporters and customers. But this is still 1998 with only four races to go for us to catch Hermie and that No. 29 team for 10th place in the point standings. This time of year, I'm usually ready for the season to wind down, but now I can hardly wait until Daytona and the 1999 season!" Parker's current driver, Mike Dillon, is 11th in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings, only 41 points behind 10th-place Sadler.

Sadler entered the NASCAR Busch Series in 1992 at the age of 23, running a limited schedule of five races. He first ran a full schedule in 1993, grabbing his first win in only his 28th start and winning the 1993 Rookie of the Year title. His career statistics include two victories, 17 top-fives and 41 top-10s in 170 starts over a seven-year stretch. Sadler is on a streak of 167 consecutive starts dating back to Oct. 24, 1992.

Source: NASCAR Online