Books of Different Covers: Elliott Sadler Reads to Elementary School Kids, Anticipates TSS May Race

When Elliott Sadler makes his way to Talladega Superspeedway for the Sparks Energy 300 on Saturday, May 6, he’ll be looking to add his name to the track’s “record book” by becoming only the second driver to win three NASCAR XFINITY Series races at the biggest and baddest track on the planet.

Wednesday, while in nearby Birmingham, the NASCAR XFINITY championship points leader and defending champion of the Sparks Energy 300, was focused on a “book” of a different kind – as in reading a “book” to children during a visit to Oak Mountain Elementary School. The likeable, veteran driver recited “The Little Engine That Could” to both Kindergarten and 1st graders before talking to 2nd and 3rd  graders about the power of being a leader and the seven habits of “The Leader in Me.”

“What a great day this was,” said Sadler, who hopes to capture his third Sparks Energy 300 out of his last four attempts at Talladega. “I have a son and daughter of my own – Wyatt who is in 1st grade and Austyn who is in Pre-K – and they are around the same ages of the kids I got to be with today. I love to read to my kids. Add to it that my wife Amanda is a fourth grade school teacher (in Emporia, VA), it almost felt like I was at home. These kids today at Oak Mountain were just so much fun. I told them they could be a ‘Super Hero’ in their own book of life…. to listen to their teacher and be like ‘The Little Engine That Could’  by always having heart.”

In addition to reading and talking to the nearly 750 kids about the correlation between his racing career and their current studies, Sadler helped the 2nd and 3rd graders paint an actual stock car before handing out some fun and educational goodies that included: individual tree saplings as part of NASCAR’s Green program, NASCAR Acceleration activity books, as well as kids ticket vouchers for the Sparks Energy 300. The car that the children painted will be on display during Talladega’s tripleheader weekend as part of the track’s Kids Programming, and the Kids VIP Experience. 

“To help the kids learn about how important the NASCAR green initiative has been rewarding,” the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports (owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) said. “Taking care of the environment and our surroundings is crucial to everyday life, and I’m proud to have played a small part of that today. Kids are the future of our sport and Talladega is leading the way with kids programming. It’s a great place to watch a race for the entire family.”

Sadler hopes the Oak Mountain kids, as well as many others, will get to see him make history in the Sparks Energy 300 by joining Martin Truex, Jr. as the only other driver to go to Gatorade Victory Lane at Talladega three times in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Last year’s victory was extra special to Sadler as it ended a 65-race winless streak and his family was there with him to enjoy the occasion.

“The emotions just came over me,” remembered Sadler of that special day where he became the first XFINITY driver to ever win a race on his (41st) birthday. “I wanted to win that race so bad, for so many reasons. My children were the biggest two. To see them in Victory Lane, along with my wife, was something I will never forget. It was just emotional. Talladega will always have a special place in my heart.”

TSS PR