Sauter’s strong performance at Martinsville ends with a seventh place finish

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In: NASCAR Truck Series News

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) went from NASCAR’s longest track at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, one week ago, to NASCAR’s shortest track, Martinsville Speedway, for race No. 19 on the 2014 schedule. The half-mile oval has been known to produce great battles and flared tempers and Saturday’s Kroger 200 was no different.

Johnny Sauter, who had an average running position of 3.4 throughout the 200-lap race, led the field twice for 41 laps and looked like the truck to beat until contact with the No. 17 Tundra late in the race caused the SmokeySnuff.com driver to lose valuable track position and ultimately a third grandfather clock.

 

Starting from the seventh position, Sauter proved his strength early when he took the lead from ThorSport Racing teammate, Matt Crafton on lap 65. The No. 98 Toyota Tundra paced the field for 38 circuits before surrendering the lead under caution at lap 102 for a scheduled stop. Crew chief Jeff Hensley opted to make it a one-stop race and called the No. 98 machine to pit road for four tires and fuel.

 

Restarting ninth on lap 107 due to pit strategy by the leaders, Sauter received damage to the right front fender of his Toyota Tundra when the field stacked up in Turn 2. Although the damage caused his Smokey Snuff Tundra to be tight in traffic, Sauter was able to work his way up to the second position by lap 140 and retained the race lead on lap 185. The ThorSport Racing driver would lead the field for three circuits until attempting to make his way through lap traffic on lap 187. Sauter was forced to the high side in a four-wide battle for the lead, and ultimately lost ground and shuffled back to the second position.

 

Sauter maintained the runner-up spot on the track until the No. 17 Tundra got to the inside of his left rear quarter panel, running him up the track and ultimately back to the seventh position, where he eventually crossed the stripe behind race winner Darrell Wallace, Jr.

 

Thorsport PR

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