ASA: Sauter Collects Second Career Pole for ASA Opener

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla--Wisconsin’s Johnny Sauter, a 2001 Rookie of the Year candidate, captured the pole for Saturday’s ASARacing.com 300 at St. Augustine Speedway. Sauter, a third generation racer, will start his A.P. Plasman Group Chev rolet from the pole position after turning a lap at 16.752 sec. (107.450 mph).

“I didn’t think we would get the pole today,” said the 22-year-old Sauter. “I knew we had a good car in practice. I thought we would be in the top-five. Pretty easy to do this when you have the best people and the best car owner. I think we are going to s urprise a lot of people this year.”

Sauter had been at or near the top of the practice charts for all three practice sessions during the day. He collected his first career pole last season at the Milwaukee Mile.

The defending Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year Joey Clanton came home with the second fastest time of the night, turning a lap of 16.816 sec. (107.041 mph) around the .5-mile oval.

The defending ASA National Champion, Gary St. Amant, who turned the fastest practice lap during the weekend, posted the third quick time, clocking in at 16.860 sec. (106.762 mph). Kevin Cywinski came home fourth (16.864 sec. / 106.736 mph) while Illinois’ Pat Kelly qualified fifth (16.909 / 106.452).

Another rookie contender, Johnny Spaw of Iowa, lead all 100 laps of the non-qualifiers race to get himself into the 300-laps show. The race, which saw 11 caution flags, qualified eight more participants for the event.

All five Floridians entered in the event made the show, led by Tampa’s Ricky Carlton, who qualified sixth. St. Augustine’s Scotty Lagasee and Pinellas Park’s Mike Cope also got into the event on time, while Travis Kittleson (Merritt Island) and Ed Brown (L eesburg) made the event through the qualifing race.

The 2001 season kicks off on Saturday with spectator gates opening at 5 p.m. The on-track autograph session will begin at 7 p.m. with driver introductions and pre-race activities starting at 8:15 p.m. The ASARacing.com 300 is set for 9 p.m.

Text Provided by Jeremy Troiano

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