Hampton, GA (February 28, 2015) – Johnny Sauter, driver of the No. 98, Nextant Aerospace/Curb Records Toyota Tundra, finished a track-best sixth in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (AMS). Starting 13th, Sauter struggled with an “unbelievably loose” Toyota Tundra through the opening laps of the 130 lap event. Crew chief Doug George brought the No. 98 machine to pit road twice at laps 12 and 19, respectively, to make wholesale changes on the Nextant Aerospace Tundra in an effort to tighten up the No. 98 machine.
Restarting 28th on lap lap 22, Sauter would work his way inside the top-15 by lap 30 and the top-10 by lap 60, making a pit stop at lap 51, under caution, for four tires and fuel. Running as high as third, the ThorSport Racing driver would come down pit road for one last stop under green at lap 101 for four tires and fuel before settling in to the sixth position with 20 laps remaining. The Necedah, Wisc. driver would cross the stripe sixth behind race winner Matt Crafton, claiming his track-best finish in five starts at AMS.
Quote:
“Yeah, we just have always struggled here. This is as good a finish as I’ve ever had here. Man, wholesale changes during the race. I mean, we’re talking inches on the track bar and the pit stops were awesome all night long and we just raced the race track as best I could. I mean, it’s alright. It’s not what you want, but it’s a decent finish.”
Notes:
- Johnny Sauter finished sixth in the Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
- The sixth-place finish was a track best for the ThorSport Racing driver in five starts at AMS
- Sauter is up to fourth in the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver point standings following the second race of the season, a mere eight points behind leader Tyler Reddick
- Ty Dillon (second), Ben Kennedy (third), Daniel Suarez (fourth), and Tyler Reddick (fifth) rounded out the remainder of the top-five finishers
- ThorSport Racing teammate, Matt Crafton finished first, and Cameron Hayley was 14th
- Up next: Kroger 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Saturday, March 28
Practice 1: 14th (31.35 seconds)
Qualifying: 13th (31.05 seconds)
Team Website:www.ThorSport.com
Driver Website: www.Johnny-Sauter.com
Sponsor Website: www.NextantAerospace.com www.Curb.com
Social Media: @ThorSportRacing, @JohnnySauter
ABOUT NEXTANT AEROSPACE:
Nextant’s pioneering process for remanufacturing business jets is now recognized as an established technical and commercial success worldwide with significant sales in every major operator category and class-leading levels of comfort, performance, and reliability at a purchase price half that of comparable aircraft. The revolutionary 400XTi light jet features Williams FJ44-3AP engines and the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21(tm) integrated flight deck. The same winning combination is expected to repeat this success with the Nextant G90XT turboprop powered by next-generation GE H75-100 engines and an enhanced Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck. Founded in 2007, Nextant is a Directional Aviation company based in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information visit:www.NextantAerospace.com
ABOUT DIRECTIONAL AVIATION CAPITAL:
Directional Aviation Capital is a private investment firm whose singular focus is private business aviation. Combining strategic aviation ownership, unmatched experience and revolutionary vision, Directional continues to innovate and reshape private aviation. Directional’s unique industry expertise enables them to quickly understand business aviation companies and provide the financing and operational strategy needed to take advantage of evolving market opportunities. For more information, visit: www.DirectionalAviation.com
ABOUT THORSPORT RACING:
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 98 Nextant Aerospace/Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter, and the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Cameron Hayley in 2015.
