(Photo by Matt Sullivan/NASCAR via Getty Images)
By Justin Tucker
Johnny Sauter scored perhaps the biggest win of his NASCAR career on Saturday Afternoon at Martinsville Speedway holding off Chase Elliott in the closing laps to win the Texas Roadhouse 200 Presented by Alpha Energy Solutions.
With the win, Sauter punched his ticket to the championship race at Homestead Miami Speedway in three weeks to cap off the inaugural Camping World Truck Series Chase.
“Nobody was more happy about the Chase format than me. When I look at the last seven races they are all tremendous racetracks. We had won at five of the last seven racetracks,” Sauter said. “I’ve never felt more confident as a race team. We’re executing on pit road, had a chance to win some other races. I feel pretty good about where we’re at.”
It’s Sauter’s second win of 2016 and third victory in his 18th start at Martinsville.
“To be able to come to a place like this that’s been pretty kind to me over the years and to get a win was extra special,” Sauter said. “All in all a great day, drove to the lead early, had some brake trouble there, had to conserve for about 100 laps.”
Elliott started from the pole and led a race high 109 laps in only his second NCWTS start since 2013. Elliott, who will start fifth in tomorrow’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 used today’s race to gain experience at a track he has historically struggled at.
“Really strong truck. I was glad we were able to run today. I hope it helped for tomorrow,” Elliott said. “It was good to get some laps and try to get better at this place. This has been an absolute struggle for me.”
John Hunter Nemechek finished third followed by: Christopher Bell and Timothy Peters rounded out the top five.
Daniel Suarez, Cole Custer, William Byron, Daniel Hemric, and Austin Hill rounded out the top ten.
Notables include: Cameron Hayley 11th, Tyler Reddick 13th, Ryan Truex 14th, Matt Tifft 16th, Matt Crafton 17th, Ben Kennedy 18th, and Ben Rhodes 19th.
