Race Recap – Sauter Wins Third Straight

RACERECAP

JOHNNY SAUTER WINS JEGS 200 FOR THIRD STRAIGHT MONSTER MILE WIN

When Johnny Sauter couldn’t refire his engine during an attempt to save fuel during the May 3 “JEGS 200” NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race, he had a few choice words to share with his team.

As the sun faded over the Monster Mile’s backstretch, however, the only sounds coming from Sunoco Victory Lane were whoops of celebration as Sauter’s No. 13 Ford team with ThorSport Racing emerged with its first victory of the season and earned the first golden Monster Trophy of Dover’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 2019.

Sauter held off Brett Moffitt on a restart with five laps left and clinched his third straight NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory at Dover International Speedway with an average speed of 107.431 mph, completing the 200 laps in 1:51:42.

“I just love it here,” Sauter said. “People ask me all the time what my favorite race track is, I always come back to the Monster Mile. We’ve been able to work the second groove and make some moves and make some passes. When you have more room to race, it’s more fun.”

The only hiccup for Sauter came following his Stage Two win, when he was trying to save fuel to help with his team’s final pit stop. In between turning the ignition off and on again, the motor failed to fire.

“I’m not exactly sure what happened,” Sauter said. “We were saving fuel and shutting the ignition off but I couldn’t get it to crank. You just have to stay focused.”

Sauter recovered and took the lead for good with 30 laps left and topped Moffitt by 0.603 seconds at the checkered flag. Rookie Harrison Burton was third, followed by points leader Grant Enfinger in fourth and Matt Crafton in fifth.

“We still have work to do but I think we’ll be strong heading to the end of the season,” Sauter’s crew chief Joe Shear Jr. said.

Moffitt led a race-high 81 laps, followed by rookie Sheldon Creed with 59 and Sauter with 43. Creed had his day end early when he spun out on the backstretch on Lap 160, bringing out one of the race’s six caution flags, which consumed 35 laps.

RACEREPORT

TRUCKDRIVERS

JORDANANDERSON HOMETOWN: FOREST ACRES, S.C.JORDAN ANDERSON RACING TYLERANKRUM HOMETOWN: SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. GMS RACING

ROSSCHASTAIN HOMETOWN: ALVA, FLA.NIECE MOTORSPORTS MATTCRAFTON HOMETOWN: TULARE, CALIF.THORSPORT RACING

SHELDON CREEDHOMETOWN: ALPINE, CALIF. GMS RACING NATALIEDECKER HOMETOWN: EAGLE RIVER, WISC. NIECE MOTORSPORTS

SPENCER BOYDHOMETOWN: CREVE COEUR, MO.YOUNG’S MOTORSPORTS

JENNIFER JO COBBHOMETOWN: KANSAS CITY, KAN.JENNIFER JO COBB RACING

CHRISTIAN ECKESHOMETOWN: MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS

TRUCKDRIVERS

GRANTENFINGER HOMETOWN: FAIRHOPE, ALA. THORSPORTS RACING STEWART FRIESEN HOMETOWN: NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO, CANADA HALMAR FRIESEN RACING TODDGILLILAND HOMETOWN: SHERRILL FORD, N.C.FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

TANNERGRAYHOMETOWN: ARTESIA, N.M. DGR-CROSLEY RILEYHERBST HOMETOWN: LAS VEGAS, NEV. KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS

AUSTIN HILLHOMETOWN: WINSTON, GA. JENNIFER JO COBB RACING

RAPHAEL LESSARD HOMETOWN: ST-JOSEPH-DE-BEAUCE, QUEBEC, CANADA KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTs TY MAJESKI HOMETOWN: SEYMOUR, WISC. NIECE MOTORSPORTS

CHRISTIAN ECKESHOMETOWN: MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS

TRUCKDRIVERS

JOSHREAUME HOMETOWN: REDLANDS, CALIF.REAUME BROTHERS RACING BENRHODES HOMETOWN: LOUISVILLE, KY.THORSPORT RACING

JOHNNYSAUTER HOMETOWN: NECEDAH, WISC. THORSPORTS RACING AUSTIN WAYNE-SELF HOMETOWN: AUSTIN, TEXAS AM RACING

ZANESMITH HOMETOWN: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. GMS RACING RYANTRUEX HOMETOWN: MAYETTA, N.J.NIECE MOTORSPORTS

ANGELARUCHHOMETOWN: PUYALLUP, WASH.REAUME BROTHERS RACING

CHANDLER SMITHHOMETOWN: TALKING ROCK, GA. KYLE BUSCH MOTORSPORTS

JASONWHITE HOMETOWN: ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA REAUME BROTHERS RACING