Earl Sadler gave Bobby Hamilton Jr. his first opportunity to drive a Nationwide car in 1998. Ten years later Hamilton has joined Sadler’s racing team again — as a co-owner. Hamilton said he has purchased 50% of the team, which will now be Sadler Hamilton Racing. The team plans on running a limited schedule of Nationwide, ARCA and Camping World races. Hamilton became part owner on Jan. 7, 2008 — the one-year anniversary of his father Bobby Hamilton’s death.

Earl Sadler is celebrating his 25th year of having a race team this season. In recent years, the team has been a hobby for him, running a partial schedule of races. Hamilton said he hopes to help build the team into a full-fledged program by next year — either in ARCA, Nationwide or Craftsman Truck. Willie Allen has been signed for the Feb. 16 Camping World 300 — the Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona. Allen also will compete in the Camping World 150 race at the Music City Motorplex on July 19 for Sadler Hamilton Racing. Allen will team up with crew chief Danny Gill at Daytona. Gill was a crew chief for two races with Allen last year at Thorsport Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series. He also was the team’s competition director. Allen won the series’ rookie of the year in 2007. Hamilton said he plans to run in a limited number of ARCA and Camping World races this season. He also drives fulltime for Team Rensi Motorsports in the Nationwide Series.