{"id":5417,"date":"2016-09-03T23:14:31","date_gmt":"2016-09-04T04:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=5417"},"modified":"2016-09-10T15:30:36","modified_gmt":"2016-09-10T20:30:36","slug":"sadler-holds-off-hamlin-for-emotional-xfinity-win-at-darlington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2016\/09\/03\/sadler-holds-off-hamlin-for-emotional-xfinity-win-at-darlington\/","title":{"rendered":"Sadler holds off Hamlin for emotional XFINITY win at Darlington"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

DARLINGTON, S.C. \u2013<\/span><\/strong> Elliott Sadler had a passenger for Saturday\u2019s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway\u2014in spirit at least.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Elliott

Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After a breathtaking battle against Denny Hamlin over the closing laps, Sadler crossed the finish-line .454 seconds ahead of Hamlin to win for the first time at the Lady in Black\u2014and immediately dedicated the victory to JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who announced on Friday he would sit out the remainder of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season because of a concussion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“This win today is for my man, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” Sadler said. “I know he\u2019s going through a tough time. He\u2019s not being able to race his race car for the rest of the year. He was riding there with me today, and he\u2019s given me such a great opportunity to be a part of his race team.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With two laps left in the 147-lap event, however, the outcome was in the balance. Sadler had a lead of .715 seconds when he crossed the stripe to complete Lap 145. But he started sliding toward the outside wall in Turn 2 and had to fight to keep his No. 1 Chevrolet under control.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Elliott

Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Chevrolet, applies the winners sticker after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hamlin pulled to the inside and the cars raced side-by-side down the backstretch, but as they entered Turn 3, Sadler regained momentum and pulled ahead in the top lane as the drivers approached the white flag. Hamlin got an excellent run through Turns 1 and 2 on the final lap but not enough to make a pass.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“I messed up, man,” Sadler said of the close call on the penultimate lap. “I could kind of see him coming, and I was trying to make up some time, and I started focusing on a lapped car in front of me, and I ran out of room and almost gave it to him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“But all in all, we were able to hold him off.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The victory was Sadler\u2019s first at Darlington in 32 starts across all three of NASCAR\u2019s national series. He won for the second time in the XFINITY Series year and for the 12th time in 320 XFINITY starts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Making only his second start of the season in the series, Hamlin was frustrated in his attempt to win at Darlington for the fifth time.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Elliott

Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 3, 2016 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Curry\/NASCAR via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

“We definitely had a good line going through (Turns) 1 and 2,” Hamlin said, “But I didn\u2019t get a good restart (on Lap 112, after the last of three cautions), he got position on me, and track position meant so much. Once he ran the high line, my car was entirely too tight to run low.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“It eliminated our passing opportunity unless we could slide-job him there in Turn 3 on that one lap he messed up, but it didn\u2019t happen.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Daniel Su\u00e1rez ran third after challenging Hamlin for second place\u2014until a brush with the wall ended his chances.\u00a0 But the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota held third place ahead of Kyle Larson, who spun entering pit road from the lead on Lap 103 to cause the final caution and caused a major shakeup of positions within the top 10.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Brennan Poole came home fifth and clinched a spot in the inaugural XFINITY Series Chase, as did Darrell Wallace Jr. (17th on Saturday) and Brandon Jones (ninth). That leaves three spots still open with two regular-season races left before the Chase field is set.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Darlington Raceway<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Darlington, South Carolina<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday, September 03, 2016<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 1. (3) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 2. (2) Denny Hamlin(i), Toyota, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 3. (5) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 4. (13) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 5. (11) Brennan Poole #, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 6. (10) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 7. (4) Ryan Blaney(i), Ford, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 8. (19) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 9. (12) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 10. (22) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 11. (7) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 12. (8) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 13. (15) Ryan Reed, Ford, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 14. (21) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 15. (17) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 16. (9) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 146.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 17. (14) Darrell Wallace, Jr., Ford, 145.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 18. (18) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 145.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 19. (16) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 145.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 20. (1) Paul Menard(i), Chevrolet, 145.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 21. (24) Ray Black Jr. #, Chevrolet, 145.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 22. (23) Garrett Smithley #, Chevrolet, 144.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 23. (36) David Starr, Chevrolet, 143.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 24. (27) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 142.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 25. (34) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 141.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 26. (25) Mario Gosselin, Chevrolet, 140.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 27. (31) Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 139.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 28. (29) Todd Peck, Ford, 138.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 29. (20) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, Accident, 102.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 30. (30) Jeff Green, Toyota, Vibration, 74.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 31. (33) Mike Harmon, Dodge, Accident, 66.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 32. (32) Carl Long, Chevrolet, Accident, 60.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 33. (28) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Transmission, 51.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 34. (37) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, Suspension, 45.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 35. (6) Kevin Harvick(i), Chevrolet, Engine, 33.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 36. (35) Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, Accident, 28.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 37. (26) BJ McLeod #, Ford, Accident, 20.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 38. (39) Dexter Bean, Chevrolet, Electrical, 5.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 39. (40) John Jackson, Chevrolet, Transmission, 4.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 40. (38) Matt DiBenedetto(i), Toyota, Rear Gear, 3.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:\u00a0 128.719 mph.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Time of Race:\u00a0 1 Hrs, 33 Mins, 36 Secs. Margin of Victory:\u00a0 0.454 Seconds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Caution Flags:\u00a0 3 for 17 laps.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lead Changes:\u00a0 8 among 6 drivers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:\u00a0\u00a0 P. Menard(i) 1-6; E. Sadler 7-24; R. Black Jr. # 25-26; E. Sadler 27-47; D. Hamlin(i) 48-90; K. Larson(i) 91-102; R. Blaney(i) 103-107; D. Hamlin(i) 108-111; E. Sadler 112-147.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):\u00a0 E. Sadler 3 times for 75 laps; D. Hamlin(i) 2 times for 47 laps; K. Larson(i) 1 time for 12 laps; P. Menard(i) 1 time for 6 laps; R. Blaney(i) 1 time for 5 laps; R. Black Jr. # 1 time for 2 laps.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Top 10 in Points: E. Sadler – 815; D. Suarez – 761; J. Allgaier – 750; T. Dillon – 742; B. Gaughan – 732; E. Jones # – 713; B. Poole # – 705; B. Jones # – 684; D. Wallace, Jr. – 630; R. Reed – 596.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. \u2013 Elliott Sadler had a passenger for Saturday\u2019s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway\u2014in spirit at least. After a breathtaking battle against Denny Hamlin over the closing laps, Sadler crossed the finish-line .454 seconds ahead of Hamlin to win for the first time […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[325,16],"class_list":["post-5417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-elliot-sadler","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DR_NXS_Sadler_090316.jpg?fit=4413%2C3054&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-1pn","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5417"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5427,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5417\/revisions\/5427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}