ASA: Sauter Looking to Make History Over Remaining 12 Races

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 15, 2001

PENDLETON, Ind. – You think winning an ASA ACDelco Series event is hard, especially when you are a rookie, just ask Glenn Allen Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Tim Sauter, Rick Beebe, Mike Garvey and a whole slue of others who failed to do it. It is not a task accomplished often.

The first rookie to win an ASA event was Scott Hansen, and that accomplishment came in 1989. In his rookie year, he captured two wins on the way to his earning Pat Schauer Memorial Rookie of the Year honors. It happened again, a year later, when Tim Steele picked up his one and only ASA victory, this one at Salem Speedway in Salem (IN), though Steele fell short of earning Rookie of the Year honors.

And now Johnny Sauter can add his name to the list, as the Necedah (WI) native has become only the ninth driver to win an ASA National event in his rookie season. He also is, to date, the only member of the Sauter family to accomplish the feat, as father J im and brothers Jay and Tim couldn’t capture wins in their initial seasons.

In fact, Sauter’s win at Nashville Speedway USA tied him with Kevin Cywinski and Derrick Gilchrist for the record for wins during their rookie seasons, with three. Chances are, being the hottest driver on the circuit right now, that record may be in jeopar dy and Sauter could add at least one more victory to his total. He already has surpassed one rookie record, as his 680 laps led beat the entire season total for Cywinski in 1996, when he paced the field for 515 laps.

Sauter will try to break the record as the series travels to I-70 Speedway on Saturday, June 16, for the ASARacing.com 300.

Following Steele’s win in 1990, no rookie won again until Cywinski in 1996, where he captured his first career win at Anderson (IN) Speedway. He still holds the distinction as being the only rookie to ever win the Anderson 400. The following year, Steve Ca rlson won in his rookie season, capturing the checkers at Peach State Speedway in Jefferson (GA). In 1998, the late Adam Petty was the only rookie to win in that season, when he came from two laps down to win at I-70 Speedway in Odessa (MO).

In 1999, Gilchrist collected the first of his three wins at New River Valley Speedway in Radford (VA). The following year, in 2000, history was made, as two rookies captured wins in their rookie seasons, as both Scott Wimmer and eventual 2000 Pat Schauer M emorial Rookie of the Year Joey Clanton collected wins. Wimmer won his first of two events at Lanier National Speedway in Gainesville (GA), while Clanton took the checkers at Memphis (TN) Motorsports Park.

On Friday, June 15, ASA practice begins at 1 p.m. (local), with qualifications taking center stage at 6. The 100-lap qualifier race goes green at 8. On Saturday, ASA’s exclusive on-track autograph session is scheduled for 6 p.m., with pre-race ceremonies s tarting at 7:15. The ASARacing.com 300 goes green at 8 p.m.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.