Pit road penalty relegates Sauter to at 14th place finish at Chicago

Johnny Sauter, driver of the No. 98 Nextant Aerospace/Curb Records Toyota Tundra, didn’t have the night he envisioned in the rain-delayed Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland Speedway. Following his first pole position start in six races at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval, Sauter led the field for the first 23 laps before losing the lead on lap 24 to Austin Dillon. The ThorSport Racing driver fell as far back as sixth, battling a Toyota Tundra that was “tight on exit” in the early part of a run and then “swung free” at the end of a run.

Crew chief Jeff Hensley brought the No. 98 machine to pit road for the first time under caution at lap 63 for four tires and fuel, including a chassis adjustment to aid in the handling. When racing resumed on lap 66, Sauter was scored seventh, and would maintain that position until coming down pit road under green for a scheduled stop at lap 108 for four tires and fuel. Unfortunately, the Necedah, Wisc. native was caught speeding on the entrance to pit road and forced to serve a pass-thru penalty on lap 110 of 150, under green. The chain of events would leave the No. 98 machine scored two laps down to the race leaders. Sauter was able to get one of his two laps back by taking the wave around when the third and final caution was displayed at lap 113 but the ThorSport Racing driver was never able to get back on the lead lap. When the checkered flag waved, Sauter was scored in the 14th position, one lap down to race winner Kyle Busch. 

 

Thorsport PR