NASCAR Camping World Series regular Johnny Sauter was the fastest truck early Saturday and beat Kyle Busch the old fashioned way, with a bump on lap 248 of the scheduled 250. Sauter was the first driver going for the series championship to win a truck series race this year. Busch finished second with Ron Hornaday, Kevin Harvick and Tomothy Peters rounding out the top five.
Harvick, who early in the race was 2 laps down but clawed his way back after a run in with Todd Bodine caused him to spend time in the pits for repairs and adjustments.
Sauter is the fourth different winner in the series this season. It was his first win at the hollowed track in seven tries.
“About the only thing that was missing (today) was leather interior,” Sauter said in Victory Lane. “I think Kyle got in the corner and got loose [on the penultimate lap]. He got loose and swung the back around and tried to come back down, and I was there and I made contact with him. It’s pretty cool when you can beat Kyle Busch.”
Kyle Busch, who is yet to win a race at Martinsville said, “We had a shot, and we gave it away. I just hate it. We had a really good truck, [but] on that last restart, I couldn’t turn. The front tires were just beat off it. If we didn’t have that last caution come out [on Lap 241], we probably would have been all right. Johnny was really good, but I hate to lose at Martinsville. I’d love to win one here someday… eventually.”
[/media-credit]Tire wear was a huge issue in the race, and Kevin Harvick said it would be a major factor in Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race.
“It’s a terrible tire,” He said. “There’s no rubber on the race track. Who knows what it’s going to be (like on Sunday]?”
Sauter led the most laps . With the win Sauter takes the points lead.
