Sauter settles for 16th in Texas

Two-time Texas Motor Speedway winner, Johnny Sauter, showed promise for a third cowboy hat after posting the fastest times in both NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) practice sessions on Thursday at the 1.5-mile track. After a 12th-place qualifying effort on Friday, the ThorSport Racing driver was “haunted” with bad luck in Friday night’s WinStar World Casino & Resort 350 and credited with a 16th-place finish.

 

Sauter, who was making his 13th appearance in the Lone Star State, started the 147-lap event from the 12th position. The SmokeySnuff.com driver advanced to the sixth position on the opening lap and maintained his position until the first caution flag was displayed on lap 23. Crew chief Jeff Hensley brought the No. 98 Tundra to pit road for four tires, fuel and a trackbar adjustment to aid in the “tight on exit” feel.

 

Restarting sixth, Sauter would lose two positions on the race track before complaining of a “vibration killing my speed.” Falling as far back as 10th in the running order, the ThorSport Racing driver would eventually relinquish his position on track to bring his Peach Smokey Snuff Tundra to pit road under green to aid in the vibration. Hensley would make the call for four tires and fuel, returning Sauter to the demanding, high-speed oval in the 20th position after learning the Necedah, Wisconsin driver had a broken right front wheel.

 

The ensuing run would give way to green flag pit stops. As the leaders began coming down pit road for scheduled stops, the second caution flag was displayed on lap 77 and the No. 98 Tundra was scored fifth. Opting to stay out under caution for track position, Sauter would restart fourth at lap 81. On old tires, Sauter would eventually fall back to the 11th position before an opportunity for relief came on lap 97 when the third caution flag was displayed. Hensley would call the ThorSport Racing driver to pit road for his final scheduled stop for four tires and fuel.

 

The Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff driver would maintain his position inside the top-10 over the next 36 circuits before going for a spin on the frontstretch at lap 137, bringing out the fifth caution of the afternoon. The SmokeySnuff.com crew would bring the No. 98 Tundra to pit road, under caution, twice to repair damage to the splitter. The ThorSport Racing driver would maintain a top-20 position in the final 10 laps to cross the stripe in the 16th position behind race winner Kyle Busch.

 

Thorsport PR