NASCAR XFINITY Series exhibits increasing depth

Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Financial Ford, speaks to the media during a press conference after practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, 2015 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
Spread the love
Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Financial Ford, speaks to the media during a press conference after practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, 2015 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Financial Ford, speaks to the media during a press conference after practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, 2015 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

BRISTOL, Tenn. – To assess the depth of talent among NASCAR XFINITY Series regulars, look no further than the Dash 4 Cash program that awards $100,000 to the top finisher among four qualified drivers in four designated races, including Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol.

All told, nine different drivers have claimed the 12 Dash 4 Cash positions for the three races so far. Regan Smith has won the first two installments (at Dover and Indianapolis).

“We hear it all the time, wanting to know how healthy our sport is moving forward – drivers, young drives coming in, talented drivers coming in,” said Elliott Sadler, one of the four eligible Dash 4 Cash drivers at Bristol. “I think it shows that a lot of the (Sprint) Cup-affiliated teams across the board have got some good shoes in their cars, and I think that’s why so many different guys have qualified for the Dash 4 Cash.

“We’re lucky enough to be a part of it. A couple of years ago, it was the same three or four drivers in each Dash 4 Cash. This year, it seems like it’s a little bit more of a widespread group, so that means everybody is more on an equal playing field than what they were four or five years ago. That’s what it shows to me, that there’s a little more depth in this series than what it was, which is good for the sport.”

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.