Elliott Sadler's mom will be at Homestead after recent health issues
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 12: Elliott Sadler, driver of the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, poses with the Coors Light Pole Award and his mother Bell Sadler after qualifying for pole position for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 12, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Elliott Sadler is the consummate family man.
Sadler's mother, Bell, has fought a number of health issues this season and her health has obviously been on Elliott's mind, especially in recent weeks.
Thursday at Chase Media Day in Miami Beach, Sadler said his mother will be at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where on Saturday he'll race teammate Justin Allgaier and Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez for the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Whichever of the four drivers has the best finish at Homestead will take the title.
Sadler is very happy to have his mother, a breast cancer survivor, with him this weekend after she'd been in the hospital for the past couple of weeks.
"My mom and dad are coming down tonight," said Sadler. "And they're looking forward to this opportunity. They're coming to hopefully share a good moment. But to see her travel and to be here is definitely going to give me some inspiration on Saturday."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Sadler family hails from Emporia, Va., and Elliott's best friend is also the family doctor, and he's coming to South Florida for the face as well.
Bell has been giving her son some sage advice as he heads into the championship race.
"She was fired up this week," Sadler said of his mother. "She wanted me to stay focused and make sure I had my head on straight when I came to Miami this morning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"She came by to visit me last night to send me off on my way before I came down," said Sadler. "She's back to her old ways. She wants her son to be focused. That's her text message I get before every race: 'Stay focused.'"