ROCK AND ROLL: Racing returns to ‘The Rock’ this weekend as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Rockingham Speedway. Although this will be the first NCWTS race ever to be held at Rockingham, it isn’t Sauter’s first encounter with the 1.0-mile oval. One of the only drivers in this weekend’s field with previous starts at Rockingham Speedway, Sauter has competed in one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event and six NASCAR Nationwide Series races at the track. Sauter finished 14thin his first and only Cup start at the venue. Sauter has a best NNS finish of sixth at the track, with an average start of 11.7 and an average finish of 14.5, earning three top-10 finishes and leading 46 laps at the 46-year old facility.
LIKE A BROKEN RECORD: ThorSport Racing, the Truck Series’ longest-standing organization, is breaking yet another record this weekend at Rockingham Speedway. When the green flag waves, it will mark the 350thconsecutive event in which ThorSport Racing has had at least one truck entered, breaking Roush Fenway Racing’s previous record of 349. Sauter has been behind the wheel of the No. 13 for 77 of those starts.
DRIVE BUY: Sauter, as well as ThorSport Racing teammates Matt Crafton and Dakoda Armstrong, will be appearing at the Rockingham Thunder Fest autograph session from 7:00-8:00 PM ET in downtown Rockingham. In addition to appearing with other NCWTS competitors, the drivers will be signing and selling ThorSport Racing merchandise before and after the scheduled autograph session. Look for the No. 13 Hot Honeys Toyota Tundra show truck, where fans can get free Hot Honeys samples, purchase TSR merchandise and meet the guys.
BIG MEETING: In addition to 200 laps of great racing, a ticket to the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 presented by Cheerwine will also get fans up close and personal with Sauter, Crafton, Armstrong and their other favorite NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers. NASCAR and Rockingham Speedway are opening up the NCWTS drivers meeting for fans to come watch. The meeting is scheduled for 10:30 AM ET on Sunday, April 15th. Fans are asked to enter the infield through the tunnel in turn four if they wish to take part in the drivers meeting. A ticket to the race serves as admission. CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 13 team will utilize chassis No. 42 this weekend at Rockingham Speedway. Chassis No. 42 made its first and only previous start at Chicagoland Speedway in September when Sauter started 13th and finished sixth.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Sauter battled through early handling issues and was headed toward a top-five finish in the Kroger 250 when a suspension failure brought the team to the garage for major repairs. The No. 13 Hot Honeys/Curb Records Toyota Tundra was in fourth place with less than 25 laps to go when the suspension gave out, taking Sauter out of contention for the win and resulting in a 29th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: Johnny Sauter What are your thoughts on the Truck Series debut Rockingham Speedway? “I can’t wait. Rockingham has so much history and it’s great that we’re the series that is bringing NASCAR racing back to ‘The Rock.’ I feel good going into the race because we had the opportunity to test there at the end of last year, but even more so because I’m one of the only drivers in this field who has ever raced at Rockingham before. I’m hoping that my Cup and Nationwide experience here will pay off and give me an advantage going into this weekend’s race.”