History of the No. 38: Elliott Sadler tops modest list of accomplishments
When it comes to the modest history of the No. 38, Elliott Sadler's run in the car from 2003 through the first 22 races of 2006 while driving for car owner Robert Yates is difficult to beat.
Sadler made 130 starts in the car during that span, registering two wins, 12 top-five and 40 top-10 finishes while leading a total of 849 laps. Perhaps most impressive was the fact that in his time in the car, Sadler was very adept at improving his position on the track during races -- with an average start of just 19.2 but an average finish of 14.3. He also won seven poles.
Sadler's totals of laps led, poles won, top-five and top-10 finishes all are the most of any driver of the No. 38 in the history of NASCAR's Premier Series.
But Sadler did not have the most wins in the car. That distinction belongs to little-known Gwyn Staley, who won a total of three times in just 14 career starts in it. He also had nine top fives and 11 top 10s while driving it in 12 races in 1957 and two in 1958.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett is one of only two other drivers to win while driving the No. 38. He made two the first two starts of the season in it in 1960, leading only the final lap of 200 to win at Columbia (S.C.) Speedway, a half-mile dirt track. He never drove a car with the number on it again after that November day, when he collected $800 for his winning effort.
The only other driver to win a race behind the wheel of the No. 38 was Bob Welborn, who did Jarrett one better and won the only time he ever raced it -- at Champion Speedway in Fayetteville, N.C., in April of 1958. He collected $600 for the win.
David Gilliland, who has raced the No. 38 for Front Row Motorsports the last four seasons, owns the most career starts in it with 243. But he has yet to win a race in the car, registering just three top-five and six top-10 finishes.
All in all, 684 starts have been made by the No. 38 car in NASCAR's top series. But it has gone to Victory Lane a total of only seven times, with 30 top-five and 86 top-10 finishes.
The No. 38 car by the numbers
Starts: 684
Wins: 7
Winning drivers: Gwyn Staley, 3; Elliott Sadler, 2; Ned Jarrett, 1; Bob Welborn, 1.
Top fives: 30
Top 10s: 86
Laps led: 1,236
Average start: 25.5
Average finish: 23.9
All statistics courtesy of driveraverages.com
