Sadler wins other 125, challenges Earnhardt

Elliott Sadler thinks he can beat Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Daytona 500.
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- There's a friendly feud brewing along pit road at Daytona International Speedway.
Nothing too contentious, but certainly a confident salvo from a man who believes he has enough horsepower to take on the Dale Earnhardt Inc. empire Sunday in the Daytona 500.
That's assuming the DEI boys don't self-destruct with petty bickering.
"I would hope I'm the favorite," Elliott Sadler said after winning the second spin of the Twin 125 qualifying races Thursday, shortly after Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished first in his group. "I out-qualified him [Earnhardt] and I won my race, too.
"I know you guys in the media and everybody is picking him the favorite and that's cool. I don't mind being the underdog. Lord knows I haven't been to Victory Lane as many times as he has in restrictor-plate races, but I think I've got a great car that can do it this year."
On outside pole
Sadler will start on the outside pole alongside Ford comrade Greg Biffle in the 500. Earnhardt's Chevy will be inside on the second row, with Sterling Marlin, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson rounding out the top six in a starting field of 43 for Sunday's race.
In a Cup week dominated by Fords and Chevys, Sadler and Earnhardt have put together the most consistent runs in the pack. Sadler finished second to Biffle during Sunday's qualifying session, then followed with Thursday's 50-lap sprint in which he led three times overall and for 26 of the 50 laps. He took the lead for good on lap 33 and cruised on unencumbered, finishing with a 5-car-length lead on Marlin.
"The car qualified good, it runs good by itself, it runs good in the draft, it handles good," Sadler said. "We know that he and the '15' [Michael Waltrip] are the two cars we're going to have to outrun. But one small thing I think everybody is forgetting is that Robert Yates Racing has been to Victory Lane more than anybody else this week, so that's definitely in our favor."