Sadler claims pole position for US Cellular 250

NEWTON - Elliott Sadler had never raced at Iowa Speedway until this season.

In May for the first of two NASCAR Nationwide Series events at the .875-mile track, Sadler finished fifth after starting sixth. He appears to have become comfortable with the unique short track.

Sadler claimed the pole position for Nationwide U.S. Cellular Center 250 here Saturday. He recorded a lap of 132.386 miles per hour during qualifying.

“I'm very proud of my team,” Sadler said. “The third pole of the year. We want to do it here at a track like this. It's always a big race for when the Nationwide Series to come here. A lot of fans show up. It's big for us to be here on the pole.”

Sadler, who was third in the points standings, trailing leader Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by 24 before Saturday's race, said it was a "great run" for him and his team. They applied knowledge from their performance in the Iowa John  Deere Dealers 250 more than two months ago. They were prepared for their return trip to Newton.

“We ran very well,” Sadler said. “Got us a top-five finish. Felt like we learned some things to come back with.”

Sadler was asked about his family, which is expecting the addition of a second child. Sadler has a son and expects a daughter soon.

“The dad part has been fun,” Sadler said. “It's definitely made me a different person and make me look at life in a whole different way.”