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Sadler to return to No. 19 in 2009

by Lee Spencer

Lee Spencer is senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. She also is a correspondent for "Around the Track" on FOX Sports Net.

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Updated: January 9, 2009, 4:54 PM EST
The Elliott Sadler Saga took another strange twist.

Sadler will be returning to Gillett Evernham Motorsports for the 2009 season. The news comes only days after Sadler threatened to sue GEM after rumors began circulating that he may be replaced by AJ Allmendinger.

"We are a family," said Tom Reddin, GEM CEO, in a release. "Sometimes in a family you have differences. We have resolved all differences. We are moving on and excited about heading to Daytona."

News of Sadler's return was first reported by FOXSports.com on Jan. 8, the same day that officials with GEM and Petty Holdings announced they had reached a deal to merge.

"I want to drive. I'm a racer and that's what I do," said Sadler. "We are all on the same page now and I think you will see that show on the track."

On Jan. 2, an attorney representing Sadler filed notice in court saying GEM breached its contract with the driver to helm the No. 19 Dodge, according to the Charlotte Observer.

George Gillett, Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Allmendinger and Ray Evernham Enterprises were named as defendants.

John Buric, Sadler's lawyer, said they learned on Dec. 30 that the team had been in negotiations with Allmedinger about driving the No. 19 Dodge for 2009, the Observer said.

According to the filed notice, Sadler wanted to seek "injunctive relief, declaratory relief/specific performance, consequential and punitive damages as a result of Defendants anticipatory and actual breach of Plaintiffs' Driving Services Agreement."

Sadler joined Evernham Motorsports in August 2006 and has a total of three wins in 357 career races. He ended 2008 in 24th in the overall standings, finishing 16th or better in 12 of 36 races. In contrast, Allmendinger drove five races in 2008 for GEM, finishing 16th or better in four of them.

Prior to driving for GEM, Allmendinger drove full-time for Team Red Bull, qualifying for 39 races over a year-and-a-half span. He was released by TRB following the Kansas Cup race in September, where he earned his career best finish of ninth.

Sadler signed a contract extension in 2008 that was set to keep him at GEM through the 2010 season.

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well, this is the honest thing to do. You have already extended Sadlers contract so why even do anything else? just plain stupid. I am sad they did choose to extend it though, sadler doesn't have that fight to win does he? almingdingbat is younger and will get his ride because he can get going! kasey will probably be over at gibbs or with tony in a couple of years if GEM keeps squeezing in lemons!

Highliner9Highliner9
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GEM had the chance to get rid sadler, But got him back, To me he never show me much as a driver, Ok won 1 or 2 races, I know more drivers that never won that is better then sadler, Thing is he has some years in the sport, I bet in 2009 he don't make the chase, Much less win a race, Ok if 42 cars fail he might have a chance, I bet if A J has a ride with GEM he outshine sadler..

DaHawnDudeDaHawnDude
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my god peasce6,have you been nipping on the jack daniel?.goofy jr a top line driver?my god man,you need your eyes checked bad.COCKADOODLE DOO

papawjoe65papawjoe65
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If I wasn't wanted why stay?? If he thinks he's that good he should'nt have a problem finding another ride. Problem is he knows nobody wants him.<br /><br />More on A f r o M i n g l e . c o m - to meet sexy black and white girls..

LovelyTomoyLovelyTomoy
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ShamWow!!!!!!


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Shansi: <br /><br />if I'm not mistaken it was sadler who drove straight ahead into tony's car......................<br /><br />that to me counts as wrecking..................<br />dosen't it..........

patsox4lifepatsox4life
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least Sadler doesn't cause the wrecks like Dingy does!

shansishansi
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one thing: sadler is not a "racer" at all he maybe a race car driver but racer is a word he should be sued for using.................<br /><br />racers in this sport<br />how bout Tony, JR, Almendinger, Kyle Bush, Robbie Gordon, Kevin, the biff and Reuttiman <br />Mr. Sadler can you compare to one of them <br /><br />I did not stated they can win a race and most of them have only but no matter what car or piece of junk you give them they will get the best of that machine to get the best finish an you Sadler have been a quitter when your machine goes south...............

patsox4lifepatsox4life
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The more I read everyone seems negative. Who knows for sure that Sadler will lose and be a loser. I really want AJ "Dinger" to get a real good full time ride. I suppose we will know who is in what and their company name by Daytona.

Jilly358Jilly358
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No 88, the first thing I read was you putting down Elliott Sadler. You are so negative. Dale Jr could win and I hope so.

Jilly358Jilly358
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Wow, do you guys have nothing better to do than complain?? I feel Elliott Sadler is a good driver, if you would pay attention, it seems his problems fall more in to the hands of his pit crew. I hope to see him grow stronger, with or without GEM!!!! You guys need to cheer up and be more positive!!!! I would like to see you guys drive one of those cars, and then speak out the way you do!!!

Lunatyk_FryngeLunatyk_Frynge
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I agree with Stewy... I think we'll see the #10 run the full schedule. Especially once AJ has a few good early season runs... he'll make it too hard for them to shut it down. Everybody in the media seems to be missing the fact that the #10 will be in the top-35 too (because of the #15 and #01 going away), so I believe AJ will get his full time ride, but unfortunately GEM is stuck with Sadler as well.

frog2litefrog2lite
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Tell you whats gonna happen. Sadler will be trying to prove his worth. Over drive the car trying to do things that only Kyle or Carl can do. Sadler will wreck, wreck and wreck some more. Only hope he doesn't tear up too many good race cars while he's crashing out.

lastplace88lastplace88
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Sadler thought he could just show up and finish 30th every race for the rest of his career because he is a goofball, dumb hick like Mike Waltrip and the sponsors would stick with him. WRONG. Sadler is all that is bad about Nascar. Sadler isn't fast, competitive, a leader, a winner so what is he doing in a race car? <br /><br />Obviously, hanging around as long as possible trying to collect easy money for doing nothing.

caseyanthony1caseyanthony1
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Sadler is the cause that he is not much of a race car driver. The car of today equals the car part of the winning equation but when you have average, sub-par race car drivers like Sadler, Earnhardt, Harvick, Burton, Kenseth they are gonna look very bad next to superstar, Top of the line real race car drivers like Kyle, Kasey, Kurt, Carl, Denny, Biffle, Robby, AJ, Joey, Scotty Speed and Davey Ragan

caseykaseycaseycaseykaseycasey
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I agree with some, Elliot likes to ride out for a paycheck, He should just try to get a full time announcer job.there seems to be a bunch of them in that mode, Kurt Busch being another. But I think the COT is also the cause, it hard to show your talent with a big hunk of iron like that!

02_racecar02_racecar
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Yep, they'll put Elliott in, AJ can't see thru the steering wheel let alone over it, then he hits something or someone! JMO<br /><br />Smokenhotchickee Hey there you are again late!!! Hope you show up this weekend as the trolls are working hard these days:(:(:(

pioneerof50pioneerof50
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I think your gonna see the 9, 19, 43 and the 10 next year. AJ will stay in the 10, even though they planned to shut it down. I don't see Gillett letting AJ get away that easily. Yes, AJ out-performed ES in the last few races of last year, which now puts us at the present situation. I think its the right thing to do to keep ES in the 19 to fulfill his contract but, I think after it's up, ES is gone. I see alot of potential for this team. As I said in another message board, people need to give Sorenson a break, yeah he didn't do much in the 41.....remember who his car owner was!!! An open-wheel freak!!! Reed's not and open-wheeler thus he wasn't given the respect, equipment and funds from the boss to be competitive....but look at the 42 team.....won a race and actually didn't do all that bad. Was competitive in quite a few races, hell he even won a race in the NNS in his home country!!! I think people need to back off Reed a bit and see what he's able to do next year. Don't be so quick to judge him because his ex owner was an a--. Good luck to Reed, AJ, Kasey and ES next year!!!!

StewyOSUStewyOSU
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Sadler s##ks I seen him just ride it out when having a good car. He's just there for a paycheck not dedicated to winning. If I wasn't wanted why stay?? If he thinks he's that good he should'nt have a problem finding another ride. Problem is he knows nobody wants him.

passinthegrasspassinthegrass
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Like I said, Lawyers got Sadler his "tempory" ride. Kasey, Reed and AJ gonna run that fat, big ole lump o lard Sadler clear off the Gillette team. <br /><br />Gillette don't need Sadler, don't want Sadler and ain't gonna have Sadler for long.

caseykaseycaseycaseykaseycasey
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