Sadler's NASCAR Comeback
NASCAR Veteran Elliott Sadler Ends Retirement, Joins Kaulig's 'Free Agent' Truck for Richmond
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Key Points
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The No. 25 Kaulig Racing 'Free Agent' truck has featured a rotating roster of high-profile drivers, including Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, AJ Allmendinger, Travis Pastrana, Corey LaJoie and Ryan Newman.
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Chris Rice, Kaulig Racing’s CEO, previously served as Sadler’s crew chief during their South Boston Speedway days, and the duo won a track championship there in 1995.
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Richmond Raceway is a three-quarter-mile oval, and it’s the site of Sadler’s Truck Series debut at the track in 2000.
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Sadler has previously driven for Kaulig in O’Reilly (now ARCA/El O’Reilly) starts in 2019, making two appearances for the team and finishing 12th at Richmond and 10th at Las Vegas.
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Ryan Newman took over the No. 25 Kaulig truck at North Wilkesboro Speedway, with Conor Daly scheduled to drive the entry later in the season as part of the Free Agent program.
Elliott Sadler, 51, is coming out of retirement to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Richmond Raceway on August 14, according to Speedway Digest. He will drive Kaulig Racing's No. 25 Ram 1500 — his first NASCAR national series start since 2019 and his first Truck Series race since 2011.
The Virginia native has 855 career starts across NASCAR's top three series, with 17 wins total, according to Fanbuzz. His return to Richmond carries special weight — it is the same track where he made his Truck Series debut back in 2000.
A Virginia Homecoming Seven Years in the Making
Sadler last competed in a NASCAR national series race in 2019. His comeback puts him back on a track that Virginia racing fans know well. Richmond Raceway is a three-quarter-mile oval just miles from where Sadler built his early career, Speed Sport reported.
Sadler has deep ties to the Richmond crowd. He raced at South Boston Speedway in Virginia early in his career and has long been a fan favorite in the region. Racing close to home — after seven years away — gives this return extra meaning for both Sadler and his supporters.
Sadler and Kaulig CEO Reunite After 30-Year Partnership
This race is not just a one-off deal. It reconnects Sadler with Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice, a man he has known for decades. Rice served as Sadler's crew chief at South Boston Speedway, and the two won a track championship together there in 1995, according to Speedway Digest.
Sadler also has prior experience with Kaulig Racing. He made two ARCA starts for the team in 2019, finishing 12th at Richmond and 10th at Las Vegas. That history made this partnership a natural fit when the No. 25 Free Agent seat opened up, Head Topics reported.
Kaulig's Free Agent Truck Draws Star-Studded Driver List
The No. 25 truck is the centerpiece of Kaulig's Free Agent program. The team rotates high-profile drivers through the entry across the season. Names like Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer, AJ Allmendinger, Travis Pastrana, Corey LaJoie, and Ryan Newman have all taken turns behind the wheel, according to Speed Sport.
Ryan Newman drove the No. 25 at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier this season. Conor Daly is scheduled to take the truck later in 2025. Sadler slots into the August 14 Richmond race as the next name in that rotating lineup of veterans and fan favorites.
Sadler Brings a Proven Truck Series Résumé to Richmond
Sadler is no stranger to Truck Series competition. He has 17 wins across NASCAR's three national series. His most recent Truck victory came at Pocono in 2013, according to Roundtable. That win shows he can still compete at a high level in the format.
At 51, Sadler enters Richmond with experience that few part-time drivers can match. His 855 career starts span the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series. He knows how to race short tracks and how to work with a team — two things that matter at a track like Richmond.
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