Lucky Number Seven Could Lead To A Historical Seven For Sauter In Phoenix

Nov 9, 2015

Hero Card Requests:

Send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to: ThorSport Racing Attn: Hero Card Request PO Box 2218 Sandusky, OH 44871

Team Information:
2015 Driver Point Standings: 4th
2015 Owner Point Standings: 4th
Crew Chief: Doug George

Sandusky, Ohio (October 9, 2015) – Johnny Sauter, driver of the No. 98 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Toyota Tundra, will make his seventh start at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway (PIR) on Friday night, site of race No. 22 of 23 on the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule. In six previous starts, the ThorSport Racing driver has one pole (2009), and has led 11 laps (2009) en route to three top-five and five top-10 finishes. With only two races remaining in the 2015 season, Sauter is looking for a win – his first of the 2015 NCWTS season, and first for partner Smokey Mountain.

In fact, if Sauter can make his way to victory lane on Saturday, in his seventh start at PIR, the ThorSport Racing driver will have found his way to victory lane in seven consecutive NCWTS seasons, a feat that only four drivers have been able to do in the series 20-year history (Todd Bodine, Kyle Busch, and Ron Hornaday, Jr., and Timothy Peters).

Sounding Off – Johnny Sauter:

“I liked Phoenix a lot when it was the old style, but as it’s started to age, you’ve started to see people run all over the race track. The one thing I hope is that tires make a difference this year, because it’s usually a two tire race, where track position is everything. I like racing there, and hopefully we can have a good run for all the Smokey Mountain executives that will be there to support us this weekend.”

News & Notes:

Chassis Chatter…The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 52 for Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. This chassis was last seen at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon where Sauter started 23rd and finished third. In fact, this chassis has made four starts already this season, securing two top-five and four top-10 finishes – Dover (Del.) International Speedway (9th), Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis (3rd), Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (9th), and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon (3rd).
Phoenix Stats… Sauter will make his seventh start at PIR on Friday. In six previous starts, Sauter has led 11 laps en route to three top-five and five top-10 finishes.
2015 Season In Review… In 21 NCWTS starts in 2015, Sauter has completed 3166 of 3171 laps attempted (99.8%), and led 118 laps en route to seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. The ThorSport Racing driver has an Average Start of 11.8 and an Average Finish of 8.5 with a Best Start of third at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, and a Best Finish of third at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City and Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis.
Previous Race Recap… Sauter started 13th and finished 13th in the WinStar World Casino 350k at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.
Sauter’s Looking For Number Seven… Sauter is one of two drivers with a win in six consecutive NCWTS seasons, and the ThorSport Racing driver is looking to make it seven in 2015. In fact, only four drivers have been able to accomplish the feat in the series 20-year history (Todd Bodine, Kyle Busch, and Ron Hornaday, Jr., and Timothy Peters).

Sauter’s NCWTS Stats at Phoenix:

6 starts since 2009
831 of 880 laps completed (94.4%)
11 laps led
Three top-five finishes
Five top-10 finishes
Best start: First (2009)
Best finish: Third (2010)
Average start: 8.5
Average finish: 9.0

Johnny Sauter’s 2014 Highlights:

Finished fourth in the NCWTS driver point standings
Sixth consecutive full-time season driving for ThorSport Racing
Earned a win at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, extending his win streak to six consecutive seasons
Earned eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes
154 laps led
Average finish: 9.3

Sauter’s Career Truck Series Stats: