Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Sadler, Gordon post fastest times in LVMS tests

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 10:23 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Elliott Sadler was the fastest car in qualifying trim and Jeff Gordon was fastest in race trim during the first day of NASCAR Winston Cup testing Monday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Sadler, one of the few Winston Cup drivers to run a full qualifying setup during Monday's eight-hour test turned in a top speed of 169.112 mph in his No. 21 Motorcraft Ford.

Gordon, the defending winner of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at LVMS, ran a lap of 167.963 mph with a race setup in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet.

Jimmie Johnson, a rookie who is driving the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, continued his impressive testing season by turning the third-fastest lap (167.183 mph) of the 12 Winston Cup drivers who tested Monday.

Dale Jarrett, who sat on the pole for last year's Winston Cup race at LVMS with a speed of 172.106, was at the bottom of the speed chart Monday at 162.651 in the No. 88 UPS Ford.

Other Winston Cup drivers who tested Monday were Matt Kenseth (166.924 in a Ford); Las Vegas native Kurt Busch (166.154 in a Ford); Derrike Cope (165.037 in a Ford); Kevin Harvick (164.634 in a Chevy); Robby Gordon (164.584 in a Chevy); Jeff Burton (164.384 in a Ford); Mark Martin (164.134 in a Ford); and Jeremy Mayfield (164.034 in a Dodge).

Only three Busch Series drivers tested Monday. Jeff Green, who is not testing his Winston Cup car this week, was the fastest Busch Series driver at 162.651. Johnny Sauter (161.677) and Chad Little (160.714) also took part in the test.

An additional 15 Winston Cup drivers were expected for today's test session. Testing will continue through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

But Gordon said most of his advice to the 26-year-old Johnson has focused on matters away from the racetrack.

"I think that most of the stuff that I'm going to help him out with is off the racetrack ... in terms of scheduling and PR and sponsors, fans, media -- all that stuff that can really cut into your focus," Gordon said.

"I think if you've got things organized and you kind of know how to expect certain things, it helps you to deal with it a little bit better and be able to stay focused on what's important, which is driving these racecars as fast as you can."

Sam's Town has sponsored the annual Busch Series race at LVMS since its inception in 1997. The sixth annual Sam's Town 300 will be held on Saturday, March 2.

"Boyd Gaming Corporation is pleased to be able to continue its long relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway in general, and the Sam's Town 300 in particular as the only title sponsor this race has ever had," said Dan Stark, Boyd Gaming Corporation's director of marketing.

"It is our goal to make this race the biggest on the NASCAR Busch Series circuit."