Over the past couple of years, Johnny Sauter has been fast at Kentucky Speedway in the Camping World Truck Series, but he has yet to reach victory lane. Sauter has come close on many occasions including a runner-up finish, and went from leading to in the garage with 20 laps to go due to a broken axle.
Sauter is hoping this weekend goes much better as he comes into the weekend leading the points following a solid start to the 2014 season.
“Every year we come back, it seems to get more challenging – to say the least – but I think it enables guys to move around the track and find what works for their truck,” Sauter commented. “I’m just looking for whatever we can get as it’s been a track that we’ve had success, but haven’t. We need to keep the points at the back of our mind as it’s too early to say that we’re points racing as we’re only seven races in so long way to go, but we still need to put finishes together and keep competitive.”
In wanting to keep the consistency going while looking for a shot to grab the victory, Sauter says it’s all about “keeping everything in perspective” with regards to expectations and looking for the right handle on his Toyota Tundra.
“I think I’ve been doing this long enough that I can come in here and manage those expectations,” Sauter commented. “I don’t think I’ll come in here tomorrow and dominate, but I don’t think I will come in here and run 20th. You just have to manage it and make the right adjustments as it’s a challenging place as we practice in the day and race at night so just managing those expectations. You just have to have a level head and know that set-ups are going to change and evolving. As they say in racing you can show up with a set-up that was successful last year to the track this year and you’re not going to be fast so things are constantly evolving and you just try to do the best you can and whatever the night brings you, it brings you.”
Though heading into the weekend, a lot of people haven’t pinned Sauter or fellow series regular to win the race. Instead, fingers have pointed towards Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon who are running the truck race on Thursday night as potential winners. While some drivers may call the double-dippers “annoying”, Sauter says it doesn’t bother him as he believes that his ThorSport Racing team has what it takes to beat them.
“I don’t ever feel when I walk out to driver intros that I’m beaten because they’re in the race,” Sauter stated. “It doesn’t bother me the least.
