Xfinity: Elliott Sadler Takes Big Win at Darlington Raceway
By Alex Herbst
Dedicating his win on Saturday to his owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., Elliott Sadler took an emotional victory for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series at Darlington.
On a NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway, perhaps it was only appropriate that one of the most veteran drivers of the Xfinity Series won on Saturday afternoon. Elliott Sadler, running an old scheme on his #1 Chevy from 2005, won the Sport Clips VFW Help a Hero 200, in an emotional victory for JR Motorsports.
The final laps of the race would be a battle between Sadler and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, where one small mistake could mean the difference between first and second. Hamlin attempted to capitalize on Sadler with two to go, but could not make the move stick. It would be Sadler’s second win of 2016, and first at the lady in black.
After the race, Sadler dedicated his victory to his team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will miss the rest of the 2016 season due to concussion symptoms.
"This win today is for my man, Dale Earnhardt Jr. I know he’s going through a tough time. He’s not being able to race his race car for the rest of the year. He was riding there with me today, and he’s given me such a great opportunity to be a part of his race team."
Things have really turned the corner for Sadler and his race team in recent weeks. After reports that sponsor OneMain Financial was leaving the sport, they signed back on for two more years. The win also comes just two races before the start of the first-ever Xfinity Series chase, building momentum for the #1 car.
Denny Hamlin would cross the line in second, with teammate Daniel Suarez in third. Kyle Larson finished fourth, this after bringing out the final caution (in part) as he spun heading for pit road.
Here are the full results from the Sport Clips VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway:
- Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, JR Motorsports
- Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Daniel Suarez, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Erik Jones, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Ryan Blaney, Ford, Team Penske
- Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, Jeremy Clements Racing
- Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Ryan Preece, Chevrolet, JD Motorsports
- Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, JR Motorsports
- Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Ryan Reed, Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
- JJ Yeley, Toyota, Tri-Star Motorsports
- Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, RSS Racing
- Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Darrell Wallace Jr., Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
- Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, JGL Racing
- Blake Koch, Chevrolet, Kaulig Racing
- Paul Menard, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Ray Black Jr., Chevrolet, SS Green Light Racing
- Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, JD Motorsports
- David Starr, Chevrolet, RSS Racing
- Joey Gase, Chevrolet, Means Racing
- Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, Derrike Cope Racing
- Mario Gosselin, Chevrolet, King Autosport
- Josh Berry, Chevrolet, Obiaka Racing
- Todd Peck, Ford, Rick Ware Racing
- Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, JD Motorsports
- Jeff Green, Toyota, Tri-Star Motorsports
- Mike Harmon, Dodge, Harmon Racing
- Carl Long, Chevrolet, MBM Racing
- Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing
- Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, Shepherd Racing Ventures
- Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, JR Motorsports
- Timmy Hill, Toyota, MBM Racing
- B.J. McLeod, Ford, McLeod Motorsports
- Dexter Bean, Chevrolet, King Autosport
- John Jackson, Chevrolet, John Jackson Racing
- Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, Tri-Star Motorsports
Related Story: Xfinity Series Throwback Cars at Darlington Raceway
Just two races remain to secure a spot in the chase for the Xfinity Series championship. Who will qualify into the Round of 12 at Kentucky? Their next chance to see comes on Friday, September 9 with racing from Richmond International Raceway, live on NBCSN.