NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
Photos and story © 2005 Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

Ford Racing Focus

"We all had a kind of burning desire to spin tires and burn some fuel. We just happened to do it in circles every Sunday."

Time: NASCAR finale 2005
Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Event: Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway

An opportunity for a fan to ride in a new Ford driven by NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler on Homestead-Miami Speedway is a privilege. Ford Racing arranged that and a FanFest in Ft. Lauderdale's Las Olas Riverfront in coordination with the Ford Championship Weekend NASCAR finale at HMS. Ford NASCAR drivers, Greg Biffle, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Elliott Sadler, Matt Kenseth and Todd Kleuver, posed for photos and sign autographs for hundreds of fans queued up in long lines in the quaint downtown park.

The opportunity to get to know Elliott Sadler in an up-close environment is a memorable experience. Sadler's genuine personality enhances these wonderful fan moments. Zoomster.com has been fortunate to interview Sadler one-on-one for the second time in one year. Like all drivers at the NASCAR level Sadler is frequently busy during fan events, media moments, sponsor obligations, and of course during practice and racing. When Sadler works his time around fans and media the result is generally an energetic display of honesty and reality.

Zoomster.com enjoys all moments with NASCAR and NHRA drivers and we hope you enjoy the time and space we have proudly allotted to Sadler's images and answers.

Dwight asked Elliott Sadler:

"I don't think anything has ever happened in my career that has changed my focus. I've only had one focus and that's race as hard as I can and be as successful as I can. This is the only thing I do. I don't have any other hobbies. I think one of the biggest breaks I ever got was when I got to break in with the Woods brothers car from Busch into Cup. They have such a stable company and they are such great people and I learned a lot about the sport off the racetrack. I think that was one of my biggest breaks that I ever had racing. I've tried to make the most of it ever since."

"I want to win a championship one day. I want to keep winning races. You want to win poles. You want to be successful every year that you come out on the racetracks. My sunlight would be being able to be down here for Ford Championship weekend one weekend as the champion. That day might come, it might not, but that's definitely going to be my goal throughout my racing career."

"Oh, I don't know. I'm pretty laid-back. I like to have a lot of fun and enjoy life. You only get one round at this roller coaster ride. I think I'm personable - a man among the people. I was born and raised on a little farm in Emporia, Va., and I know what it's like to have a blue-collar job. These people spend a lot of hard-earned money to come and watch us race each and every Sunday. I know where they are coming from so I want to treat those people with the biggest respect that I can. Treat them like real race fans because without them we wouldn't have the jobs that we have. "

"I hope not. I hope it stays the same."

"I think I get it from my family. It's all I've ever done. My dad raced. My mom had three brothers who raced. I've got a couple of first cousins that race. It's in the bloodline. If you trace us back we all had a kind of burning desire to spin tires and burn some fuel. We just happened to do it in circles every Sunday."

"I really don't have much to say. I don't talk a lot. I just kind of say what's on my mind. The only thing I have to say is that I appreciate all the fans and what they do for this sport. Without them we wouldn't have this sport."

"I'd like to say thanks to all the men and women with the Armed Services. They protect us at home and abroad and are not commended enough on their bravery and what they go through. My cousin just got back from Afghanistan and the stories he tells and what he's been through. I think Americans take too much for granted and don't really appreciate the hard work that's going on across the seas so we can be safe every week. I want to say thanks to all the people involved and help keep fighting to keep our land free."