Sandusky, OH – March 10, 2011 – Johnny Sauter and the No. 13 Safe Auto/Curb Records Chevrolet Silverado team returns to Darlington Raceway this weekend after a solid fourth place finish at Phoenix International Raceway two weeks ago. He also returns for his 63rd NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career start and second outing at Darlington in the Series. Sauter started 13th in 2010 at the track, powering home for a fourth place finish at the checkers. And for the last “four” – Sauter stands in the fourth position in overall driver points in the NCWTS going into Darlington.
ON DARLINGTON:
“Darlington is such a fun place to run. It’s different. You have to race the race track, not the competition. If you don’t, it will bite you and you’ll be in the wall with a Darlington stripe. I’m not one for off weeks – I like to race as much as I possibly can. So I’m pretty psyched to get back to racing, and Darlington is my kind of track. There is more going on here than a Chicago or a Vegas, and you really have to focus. We have a pretty big Rookie class this year, and I think they are about to get educated by the Lady in Black.”
ON HIS HISTORY HERE:
“I’ve always run so well here, even back to Busch Grand National days – with nothing to really show for it. I’m happy with the fourth place finish from last year with ThorSport Racing – the first Truck race at Darlington for several years – but I want a win here. It’s such a historical track, and you have to show so much respect to it. The win here means a lot to any driver. It’s a fight to the finish every year, and I need a win here. I’m a late model racer until I die, and this is a late model racer’s track. It’s old school at its best.”
ON CHASSIS 23:
“We are using chassis 23, which was used at Homestead last year. We pulled out a fourth place finish there, and it’s a strong truck. I’m pretty confident it’s going to get the job done in Darlington. My pit crew really showed their strength in Phoenix, and it’s a tricky pit road at this track. I know they can dominate to help me get track position, and the ECR horsepower is going to get it done on track.”
ON CONSISTENCY & TEAMWORK:
“It’s great to be fourth in points right now, but Matt (Crafton) and I both say to our guys that it’s early on in the season. We can’t get comfortable. This year, the No. 13 team is about consistent top 5s, top 3s, wins. Of course we’re going to say we’re running for a championship title. Who isn’t? But at the end of the day, we’re just not happy with anything else, and that’s the standard we’re setting for ourselves. Are we competitive within the organization? Of course. Matt and I wouldn’t be real racers if we weren’t competitive with each other. Right now, he’s on top of the boards, and teammate or not, he’s the truck to beat. We have a lot of respect for each other, but we like to race each other hard and let the best truck win.”
