Sadler out of the #21? UPDATE 4 staying thru 2002: ESPN2’s RPM 2 Night reports that Elliott Sadler has asked for his release from the #21 Wood Brothers team. Sadler supposedly is looking at an opportunity with Dale Earnhardt Inc (#15? – no idea). The Wood Brothers have not granted his release yet.(4-30-2002) UPDATE: Word around some shops [and from ESPN] is that Elliott Sadler has asked for a release from his contract from the #21 Motorcraft Wood Brothers Ford. Sadler has supposedly been approached by several teams and wants out of the contract he has had with the team since 1999 to explore those options. One of the teams rumored to be interested in Sadler is Dale Earnhardt Inc., the home of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Steve Park and Michael Waltrip. Kenny Wallace, who filled in for the Park after his Darlington injuries last September, is still under contract to DEI as well.(NASCAR.com Buzz)(5-1-2002) UPDATE 2: Elliott Sadler confirmed Wednesday afternoon that he has asked Wood Brothers Racing for a release from his contract, starting at the end of the 2002 season, so that he might begin pursuing other options for 2003. Sadler was adamant about the falsity of reports that he asked for an immediate release, and said that, barring extenuating circumstances, he’ll be in the #21 Motorcraft Ford for the remainder of the year. “The only official thing right now is that, Sunday night, I did ask for my release from the Wood Brothers so that I can pursue other options for the 2003 season,” Sadler said. “All that other stuff about (Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) or anyone else is way too premature at this point.” Wood Brothers Racing declined comment. Ty Norris, DEI executive vice president, seconded Sadler’s statement. He also suggested that May will be a pivotal month in DEI’s future. “There’s nothing really to say at this point,” Norris said. “We have talked to Elliott and we have talked to other drivers as well — including our own. We will make a lot of decisions about the face of DEI’s future by the end of May.”(NASCAR.com)(5-1-2002) UPDATE 3: Thursday’s ESPN2’s RPM 2 Night reported that Sadler has sponsor’s worth $11 million to bring to a team and has talked to DEI about taking the sponsor there.(5-3-2002) UPDATE 4: Wood Brothers Racing made clear Friday no matter what the future holds with driver Elliott Sadler, it is expected he will remain as the team’s driver at least through the end of the 2002 season. Sadler confirmed Thursday that he has asked to be released from his contract to explore driving opportunities with other teams. He said he and his team lacked the “chemistry” to build a successful program. Eddie and Len Wood, co-owners of the Wood Brothers Racing team, issued a statement Friday morning in which they acknowledged that Sadler had asked for a release from his contract, but said Sadler would remain as the team’s driver for the rest of the 2002 season. “It was rumored that he was being released or wanted the release immediately. Both of these statements are false,” the statement said. “As far as the issue of the release is concerned, we are working toward a solution that will satisfy both Elliott Sadler and Wood Brothers Racing.” Eddie Wood said later that Sadler’s request caught the team by surprise. “Every day you come to the race track, it’s a new surprise,” he said. “It just happens to be my week. Next week, it will be somebody else’s turn.” Wood said Sadler’s contract runs through the 2005 season. “We’re going to try to work this thing out and if it works out (with Sadler leaving), then we got to figure who is going to be our next guy and we haven’t started yet,” Wood said.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-3-2002)
