Elliott Sadler a proud father after birth of his son; baby remains in hospital

By Bob Pockrass

Friday, February 19, 2010

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FONTANA, Calif. – Proud father Elliott Sadler said his newborn son is still in the hospital but doing well after some surgery following the birth Monday.

“We haven’t talked about this much, but he has to stay in the hospital a couple weeks,” the Richard Petty Motorsports driver said. “He had to have surgery after he was born and all of that went well. We knew it was gonna happen, but there were just some things with his appendix and intestines, but all of that went great.

“It’s been good. He’s recovering very well and my wife is healing well, and I got some sleep in the hospital. It was tough leaving him at night and having to leave him downstairs to go back upstairs and sleep, but it’s been a wonderful experience and now I’m looking forward to the day we can get him home.”

Wyatt Herman Fritts Sadler is first child of Elliott and Amanda Sadler.

“It was by far the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me,” the 34-year-old Sadler said. “I’ve been able to do some cool things in my life and be around a lot of cool stuff – a cool sport like NASCAR – but the first time I heard him cry after he was born was by far the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me. My wife and I are very lucky. Everything is going great.

“I’m looking forward to getting him home and spending some time with him, but it was tough leaving him and coming to California.”

Sadler said he had heard about how his life would change once his child was born.

“When I had to leave him, knowing I’m gonna be gone for a couple days before I get back home, was very, very tough,” Sadler said. “How can something so small create your heart to feel so much love and so much pain all at the same time? We’re very, very proud of everything that’s going on and I’m looking forward to this part of my life.”

Sadler and his wife picked the name Wyatt, while Herman is after Sadler’s dad and Fritts after his wife’s grandmother. Elliott also has four names – Elliott William Barnes Sadler. Elliott is his mother’s maiden name, Williams is after his uncle and Barnes is his grandmother’s maiden name.

“My family likes naming kids after other people in your family,” Sadler said.