Back injury could sideline Elliott Sadler

MARTINSVILLE, Va., March 28 (UPI) -- A painful, lower-back injury could force Elliott Sadler to miss Sunday's Sprint Cup Goody's Cool Orange 500 in Martinsville, Va.

Sadler was hurt during a workout this week and undisclosed sources told NASCAR.com Friday he aggravated the injury while playing golf Wednesday.

"We really don't know too much detail about the nature of the injury other than just that it's lower back and it seems to be involving a lot of nerve damage," said Mark McArdle, vice president of competition for Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Sadler's sponsor. "It will be Elliott's call. Right now our inclination will be to begin practice with (backup) Dennis (Setzer). I don't think anything is assured at this point."

McArdle said the team hopes to have Sadler participate briefly in a 90-minute practice session and possibly qualify the car for Sunday's race.

Sadler is 20th in the Sprint Cup points standings, 274 points behind leader Kyle Busch.