Sauter enjoying life after Cup as full-timer in Trucks

Johnny Sauter is proof that life still goes on after racing in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.

Once a full-time driver for the team formerly known as Haas CNC Racing, Sauter was forced to redefine his role in the sport after he was let go early last season. He spent the remainder of the year watching races from home but never once thought his career was over, despite appearances to the contrary.

Sauter

Fortunately for the 31-year-old, Sauter has found a comfortable home in the Camping World Truck Series driving a Chevrolet co-partnered by ThorSport Racing and Mike Curb, and he is finding that NASCAR doesn't start and stop with the Cup Series. He is finding that being competitive is rewarding no matter the series.

"Obviously, you go to Cup and get an opportunity and do the best you can but at the end of the year you're sitting in 30th [in points] and the team needs to make the program better and they look to make a change," Sauter said. "Unfortunately, some times things don't work out but at the end of the day it's all about being competitive, that's all you really want."

After struggling in the Cup Series and sometimes failing to qualify for races, Sauter finally is feeling what it is like to run up front again and contend for wins.

On Friday night Texas Motor Speedway, Sauter, who made 11 previous series starts over five seasons, will become the first rookie to sit on the pole since Scott Speed at Bristol last year and is coming off his season-best finish (fifth place) at Dover.

"We worked really hard and last week we took a new truck to Dover," Sauter said. "The guys have been working really hard with me and we brought the same truck this week as we had last week and pretty much just changed a few things and it came super-fast off the truck. I'm stoked. This is a big deal for me and obviously a big deal for Thorsport and the guys on the [No.] 13 truck because it's their first pole. Now all we got to do is close the deal [Friday] night and have a solid day."

The results are a large improvement from where the team began in Daytona.

"Yeah, we struggled the first part of the year," Sauter said. "We came out of the box really fast at Daytona and went to California and we were mediocre. We got totally embarrassed and got lapped twice in a 100-lap Truck race."

Yet, Sauter has adjusted over time, not only to the truck but also with a new crew chief.

"One thing you learn spending time in the Cup Series and coming back to the Truck Series is that rules change and so much of the equipment changes," he said. "I had to figure out some things and then nailed down a crew chief in Jason Overstreet, so we just finally established a package that I'm comfortable [with] and we unload pretty much the same every weekend."

Sauter feels like he is getting closer to Victory Lane and the truck is fitting his driving style.

The Truck Series, which is stereotypically filled with older drivers who are more than rough around the edges, also is fitting Sauter's lifestyle.

"I feel old that's for sure, and I'm definitely rough around the edges so I fit right in," Sauter said with a laugh. "You know, the Cup Series overshadows the Trucks and the Nationwide series, as it should, but I just enjoy where I'm at right now. It's more laid back with a grassroots feel and atmosphere. That is why you see a lot of Truck drivers who have been to Cup content to stay in the Truck Series."

That is not to say Sauter would turn down a Cup ride tomorrow, but he is fully invested in his new job.

"I mean, every race car driver aspires to get to Cup, but mostly you're looking to be competitive and win races and I feel like we are close to accomplishing that here in the Truck Series," Sauter said.