Returning to Pocono Raceway’s “Tricky Triangle,” Johnny Sauter makes his appearance once again at the top of the driver points in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. It is the eighth week out of thirteen that the veteran driver has led the points, as well as the sixth week in a row. Sauter has only made one appearance in NCWTS at Pocono- starting 12th and finishing 14th in 2010. He hopes to improve on the last finish with a dominant chassis – 38 – which delivered a podium 2nd-place finish at Nashville in July.
NASCAR “U” CREW: The No. 13 team hosts two brand ambassadors from colleges and universities around Pennsylvania this weekend. The 13 “NASCAR U Crew” will have experience behind-the-scenes as honorary crew members and hospitality.
How do you feel going into the race at Pocono Raceway?
“Regrouping. This is when it starts to count, over the summer series. Going into Pocono, it’s a tough track for all of us in the series, so it takes a lot of focus. I spent time with my family and worked on my super late model, which takes my mind off things.”
What’s the biggest challenge going into Pocono?
“Saving the brakes is a big issue for any of the series that races at Pocono. With three turns, they have time in between to cool off – it’s the opposite at most tracks, overheating our brakes because they don’t have time to cool off. It can be a very intimidating track. It gives you more room to play with, but new challenges all the same in handling.”
How do you feel coming out of Lucas Oil Raceway?
“We were so strong in practice, leading lap times and really dominating on lap tracker – I just knew we had a win in us. It was our Martinsville chassis that we won with, and we were confident with the setup. It just goes to show you never know what’s going to happen, and that’s racing. I wanted that one pretty bad, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us that race.”
How do you feel about the handling at Pocono?
“It’s a tricky track – they mean what they say when they call it the ‘tricky triangle.’ It’s bumpy in certain points, and turns 1 and 2 have the most banking. It’s a rough track at the bottom of turn 1, so it’s critical that you drive good off the turn. It’s a long straightaway with a kink in the back, so you have to carry a lot of speed in turns 2 and 3. Anytime we carry a lot of speed in the truck series, you’re bound to see some excitement.”
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