All News Derrike Cope Hermie Sadler Rick Mast

Mast Ailing – Hermie Sadler In the #90 for the Coke 600 UPDATE:

May 24, 2002 at 12:00 AM

Mast Ailing – Hermie Sadler In the #90 for the Coke 600 UPDATE: Hermie Sadler will replace ailing driver Rick Mast this weekend in the #90 Donlavey Racing Ford Taurus, according to car owner Junie Donlavey. Mast said he has not felt good physically for several weeks and is undergoing tests to determine the cause. The doctors have recommended he step out of driving at least for this weekend’s Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Mast competed in The Winston qualifying races last Saturday night at the Charlotte track. Donlavey said Sadler was a natural choice to drive the car this weekend at Charlotte. The team is billed as an all-Virginia team. Donlavey’s Winston Cup team has called Richmond, Va., home for six decades, and C.F.Sauer’s Company is also located in Richmond. Sadler is a native of Emporia, Va., and races occasionally on the Winston Cup Series with a team he owns.(Keystone Marketing PR)(5-22-2002) UPDATE: Car owner Junie Donlavey said he doesn’t know what ails Rick Mast and isn’t sure when or if Mast would be back in the #90 Fords. Hermie Sadler has taken over driving duties for this weekend’ Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’ Motor Speedway while Mast undergoes tests to determine what his medical condition is. Mast isn’t at the track this weekend. “Rick called me (Tuesday) night, and he said he had to take some time off because he had a bunch of tests he had to go through,” Donlavey said. “We’ve noticed that he’ lost a lot of weight recently, and we’re just hoping that everything is all right. But until he goes through all of his tests, we won’t know. We’re just going to take things one day at a time because we don’t know really know anything.” Sadler said he was happy to get the call from Donlavey, who is a Virginia native like Sadler. “Emporia (Sadler’ hometown) is only about 60 miles away from Junie, so I was able to buzz over there pretty quick and get my seat in there and talk to all the guys,” Sadler said. “I know many of those guys because a lot of them worked for me when I had my Busch team, so in a lot of ways, it’ like old times. It’ a great honor and a great opportunity, so we’ll see what happens.” Sadler said he’ “just filling in until (Rick’) ready to come back.”(RacingOne), also of note, it was reported during FX’s qualifying coverage that crew chief Ernie Cope had left the #90 team (after a week or so), he is supposedly helping out the #37 and #38 Derrike Cope teams, former #90 crew chief Bobby King is back working with the team.(5-24-2002)