Charlotte II: Hermie Sadler race report

BROKEN AXLE SPOILS TOP-15 RUN FOR HERMIE SADLER

CONCORD, N.C. (October 16, 2010) -- After going a lap down early in the Dollar General 300, pit strategy allowed Hermie Sadler to get back on the lead lap and running in the top 15 before a broken axle forced Sadler to take his No. 27 CruiseOne/enMotion Ford Mustang to the garage for repairs. The Baker Curb Racing crew quickly fixed the broken axle and returned Sadler to the track eleven laps down. The veteran driver would end up finishing Friday's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 30th place.

"We didn't have a strong qualifying effort, but once the race started the CruiseOne/enMotion Ford Mustang was driving really well and we were on our way to a top-15 finish before an axle broke while I was taking off on a green flag pit stop," said Sadler. "I really like working with the group of guys that Baker Curb Racing has. They work really hard and have one of the nicest cars on the track in the Nationwide Series. Hopefully I can come back and run some more races with this team."

Sadler, who started the race from the 38th position, communicated to crew chief John Reese that the CruiseOne/enMotion Ford Mustang was a little bit free in the early stages of the race. When the second caution of the race occurred on lap 11, Reese called Sadler down pit road where the Baker Curb Racing crew filled his No. 27 with fuel, made a wedge adjustment and returned him to the track.

When the race restarted on lap 15, Sadler was scored in the 32nd position. The Virginia native was running 31st when he surrendered a lap to race leader Kyle Bush on lap 39. Lead-lap cars began to pit on lap 52 and by lap 60 the No. 27 CruiseOne/enMotion Ford Mustang was back on the lead lap, scored in 12th position. The pit strategy paid off when Brian Scott spun on lap 64 bringing out the caution and allowing Sadler to remain on the lead lap.

After pitting for four fresh tires and fuel under caution, Sadler restarted the race from the 13th position. Shortly after the field went back to green flag conditions on lap 71, he communicated to Reese that his Mustang was very loose in traffic and tight in the center of the corners. The No. 27 had fallen back to 22nd place when a debris caution occurred on lap 82. Reese once again brought the CruiseOne/enMotion Ford Mustang down pit road where the crew topped it off with fuel and made a wedge adjustment.

Sadler was scored in the 19th position when the race went back to green flag conditions on lap 86. He was running 22nd when leader Kyle Busch once again put the veteran driver one lap down. Shortly after passing Sadler, Busch had to make a green flag pit stop and Sadler was back on the lead lap. On lap 146 the Virginia native was running 14th when he brought his No. 27 down pit road under green flag conditions. The Baker Curb Racing crew put on four fresh tires, filled the CruiseOne/enMotion Ford Mustang with fuel and dropped the jack. As Sadler accelerated leaving the pit stall, he radioed to the crew that something was broken.

The veteran driver was forced to take his No. 27 to the garage area for repairs. The crew quickly replaced the rear axle and returned Sadler to the track eleven laps down. After spending 30 laps running in the top 15, he would finish the race with a disappointing 30th-place finish.

-source: baker curb racing