Sadler Hamilton Racing announce two car effort

Sadler Hamilton Racing Announces 2008 NASCAR Camping World Effort

Nashville, TN (February 20, 2008) -- Bobby Hamilton, Jr. and Sadler Hamilton Racing today announced it would field a pair of NASCAR Camping World entries this season. The effort will feature NASCAR Nationwide aces Hamilton, Jr. and Richard Johns handling the driving chores.

"We're pretty excited to be running the NASCAR Camping World Series," said Hamilton (right), who recently announced his partnership with the Sadler organization. "What's really nice is that Richard raced in NASCAR Nationwide Series events last year as my teammate and I know I won't have to get in there and teach him what he needs to be doing. He already knows that. He's a good short-track racer and he has a good feel for these heavy cars. That's what I need to have in a driver and Richard fills the bill.

"I'm also looking forward to running some races," Hamilton continued. "It looks like I'm going to do the first West race in Phoenix. We plan on having the best equipment out there. If we do the right things at the shop and take the right kind of pieces to the racetrack, there's no reason we can't win some of those races this season."

Johns is scheduled to drive the first three events of the 2008 NASCAR Camping World East season at Greenville (SC) Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and South Boston (VA) Speedway. Hamilton, Jr., meanwhile, will is currently scheduled to compete in West race at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, April 11 and the East Division race at Iowa Speedway May 18.

The team will also feature veteran NASCAR crew chief Danny Gill.

"It's a great opportunity for me," said Johnshbelow right). "I really have to thank Bobby Jr. and the Sadler's for allowing me to do this. I'm looking forward to getting behind the wheel and being able to race in a quality series like the NASCAR Camping World East Series. I know we are going to compete because Bobby is going to see to it that we have some great equipment. I know we're going to run good and we hope to be able to win some races. We're going to have fun. We're looking forward to it."

Sadler Hamilton Racing is located in Nashville, TN. The team made its NASCAR debut in the 1984 Daytona 500 with Sterling Marlin behind the wheel. In all, the Sadler Racing made 57 starts in NASCAR's highest division through the 1998 season. Sadler Racing has since concentrated on the ARCA/ReMax Series fielding numerous entries over the past decade.

Hamilton, Jr. has risen through the NASCAR ranks after his early beginnings with Sadler Brothers Racing. The Nashville native has made the NASCAR Nationwide Series his home totaling 212 career starts to date including five victories. He also has 64 NASCAR Sprint Cup and 30 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career starts to his credit. J

Meanwhile, Johns made 15 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts last season with a 15th-place finish at O'Reilly Raceway Park as his best effort. Johns, a Lawrenceville, GA native, came up through the south eastern go kart and late model stock car ranks. Johns is also a Mechanical Engineer, earning his degree in Motorsports Engineering from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

"A lot of great drivers have had a seat in a Sadler Brothers car," said Johns. "Both Bobby Sr. and Bobby Jr. drove their cars. So did Davey Allison, Jeff Green, Sterling Marlin and Jeremy Mayfield. That's pretty strong company and there's a lot of heritage. I'm pretty proud to become a part of that history this season and to hopefully be able to make some new history for Sadler-Hamilton Racing."

-credit: shr