Sadler hopes good start gets even better in Texas

Before he ever stepped into a Nextel Cup car, Elliott Sadler knew which track would be his favorite. He knew which track he would look most forward to every year.

When he won at Texas Motor Speedway last year, it just confirmed his expectations.

Elliott Sadler is usually in contention at Texas Motor Speedway. (Getty Images)

"Certain things just feel good to you," Sadler said. "From the first lap I made at the race track in 1997, I was like, 'Wow, I love this race track. It fits my driving style.'"

Sadler ran well at Texas in the NASCAR Busch Series, then scored his first Cup top 10 at Texas. When he won there last year, everyone was surprised but him.

"There are certain tracks that you adapt to easier than others," he says. "I know that I can come to Texas and figure a way to make my car very fast and very efficient. Yes, we won the race there last year, but Texas was by far my favorite track long before I ever won."

Sadler is particularly excited entering this weekend's race at Texas, the first of two events this year at the 1½-mile track. Not only is he the defending champion, he enters the event third in points after a strong start to the season.

Sparked by his first two victories at Robert Yates Racing, Sadler made the Chase for the Nextel Cup last season but was not picked by many to repeat the feat this season.

Using that as a bit of motivation, Sadler has scored four top 10 finishes in the first six races, including a ninth at Martinsville Sunday.

Though not shocking, Sadler is one of several drivers performing better than expected early in the season. He trails only Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle -- perhaps the season's biggest surprise -- in points.

Most of the rest of the top 10 features drivers expected to be there -- Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch -- but they are joined by Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett, two veterans off to good starts.

Lurking just outside the top 10 are surprises Carl Edwards, Sterling Marlin and Scott Riggs.

Perhaps the biggest surprise so far is the drivers expected to be contenders who are struggling. Jeremy Mayfield, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne are all outside the top 15, while Matt Kenseth has yet to crack the top 20.

Bobby Labonte, the 2000 champion, is 37th and in serious jeopardy of being out of contention for the Chase.