Johnny Sauter holds off Austin Cindric for victory at Texas Motor Speedway
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
FORT WORTH, Tex. – It was a case of déjà vu for Johnny Sauter on Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Now the defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion hopes history repeats itself two weeks hence, when he races for his second straight title at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
After taking over the lead on Lap 135 of 147 of the JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief, when John Hunter Nemechek ran out of gas while leading at the end of a cycle of green-flag pit stops, Sauter kept fellow Round of 6 Playoff driver Austin Cindric behind him and crossed the finish line .170 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer.
Sauter had passed Cindric for the lead on Lap 109, charging around the outside of the No. 19 Ford into Turn 1. The drivers ran 1-2 until they pitted on Lap 117 to start the pit stop cycle. Attempting to stretch fuel mileage, Nemechek ran out of gas 12 laps short and saw his championship hopes dim considerably.
Sauter won the Playoff race at Texas for the second year in a row and the fourth time overall. With his third win of the season, he raised his career victory total to 16 in the series and guaranteed a run for the title at Homestead.
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
“It’s unbelievable,” said Sauter, who celebrated the birth of a daughter, his third child, earlier in the week. “I was actually pretty worried about our truck after qualifying — it was pretty loose. And all we did was lower the track bar a half-round.”
Series leader Christopher Bell ran third, followed by Chase Briscoe and polesitter Justin Haley.
Sauter said after the race he would like to think the season is following the same course as last year, but he’d prefer to stay in the moment.
“I’m a realist, and I know you have to execute,” Sauter said. “Yes, this is looking a lot like it did last year, shaping up like it is. Honestly, this is our third win this year. I think we should have six or seven right now …
“We’ve got to be humble and stay nose to the grindstone, so to speak. You can’t let your guard down.”
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
The 19-year-old Cindric felt he ran the best race of his career on a mile-and-a-half track, but he couldn’t find a way around the 39-year-old Sauter at the end.
“I think it was youth versus experience tonight, and experience won, in more ways than one,” said Cindric, who moved into fourth place in the standings with the cut to four Championship 4 drivers looming next Friday at Phoenix.
“Johnny taught me a few things, but he basically taught me while he passed me for the race win.”
Bell owns a four-point lead over Sauter in the series standings, with two-time champion Matt Crafton 31 points back in third.
Trouble on a late pit stop dropped Ben Rhodes to 18th at the finish and out of the top four in the standings. Nemechek ran 19th and, for practical purposes, must win next Friday at Phoenix to advance to the Championship 4 race.
In postrace inspection, the No. 24 truck was determined to be too low, and the No. 4 truck was missing one lug nut.
For race results, click here.
Media Center Interviews:
Race winner Johnny Sauter, ownership representative Spencer Gallagher and crew chief Joe Shear Jr. –
Second-place finisher Austin Cindric and Third-place finisher Christopher Bell –
Justin Haley, driver of the #24 Zeality Chevrolet, poses with the 21 Means 21 Pole Award after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Justin Haley, driver of the #24 Zeality Chevrolet, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Myatt Snider, driver of the #51 Liberty Tax Service Toyota, and Matt Crafton, driver of the #88 Ideal Door/Menards Toyota, lead the field to a restart during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 JBL Toyota, leads Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Justin Haley, driver of the #24 Zeality Chevrolet, is involved in an on-track incident in front of Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 JBL Toyota, and Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, lead a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, leads a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Austin Cindric, driver of the #19 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford, leads a pack of trucks during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
Johnny Sauter, driver of the #21 ISMConnect Chevrolet, poses with the winner’s decal in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series JAG Metals 350 Driving Hurricane Harvey Relief at Texas Motor Speedway on November 3, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
