Entering his sixth season racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Johnny Sauter is counted among the favorites to contend for the 2006 series championship. Partnering this year with the technology-based Haas CNC Racing and veteran Crew Chief Harold Holly and coupled with the continued support of primary sponsor Yellow Transportation, Sauter stands poised for a record-setting season.
“I really consider this to be the best opportunity of my career given the team resources, the guys I have supporting me, and the fact that everyone at Yellow has put their confidence in me for another season,” Sauter said. “We’re all in it for the win and we have what it takes to make it happen.”
Along with Yellow, who also sponsored Sauter’s efforts last season, the 28-year-old brings with him a new outlook on his racing career. Known for his aggressive style, Sauter says he’s approaching the 2006 season with the same tenacity, but with a focus on making wiser choices.
“The best way to explain it is I’ve learned the difference between being overly aggressive and being aggressive in a productive way,” said Sauter. “Our focus is to take a smart and calculated approach to the entire season through one race at a time. We know the competition is fierce, but it’s up to us to create winning opportunities through preparation and teamwork.”
One of 11 children, Sauter learned early on about creating his own opportunities. Although his father, legendary short track racer Jim Sauter, may have opened doors for him in racing, Sauter had to work to fund his racing efforts.
"My dad taught me to work hard for what I want, in racing and in life," Sauter explained. I sold my street car to buy my first late model but after that first win I knew what it was all about. It’s a lesson that has made me a better driver than if I would have been handed everything."
After completing high school in 1996, Sauter’s journey began in the Sportsman Division at Wisconsin Dells Motor Speedway where he collected three wins. The following year he competed in the Late Model Division at LaCrosse Motor Speedway where he won in only his third outing.
Sauter joined the American Speed Association Series in 1998 and really began turning heads in 2001 when he dominated the series taking home most wins, most money won in a season, Rookie of the Year honors, and the ASA Series Championship.
That same year, Sauter got his first break in the NASCAR Nationwide Series competing in six races for Richard Childress Racing. In his first outing, Sauter drove to a fifth-place finish at Richmond, paving the way for a full-time ride with RCR in 2002. Just halfway into his sophomore season, Sauter picked up his first career Nationwide Series win at Chicagoland. Turning in another superior performance in 2003, Sauter scored his second career win at Richmond, helping secure the Nationwide Series Owner’s Championship together with co-driver Kevin Harvick.
Sauter joined Team Yellow Racing at the midway point of the 2004 season, and in 2005 celebrated a dominating win at the Milwaukee Mile as well as a third-place run at Yellow’s home track of Kansas Speedway.
The story continues this season with Sauter and Yellow joining Haas CNC Racing to contend for the 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.
2007 marks Sauter's best NASCAR Cup season thus far. While racing 35 of 36 races, Sauter finished in 30th position and earned one top-five and two top-10s. Sauter finished 67th in the Nationwide series for 2007 (racing 8 of 35 races); his worst career record to-date for this series. Sauter did not race in the truck series in 2007.
2009 brought Sauter not only his career high points finish of 6th, but also his first Truck series win at Las Vegas and his first two poles of the series (Texas, Phoenix). Sauter also captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.
