Pit strategy pays off for Sauter in win

JOLIET, Ill. -- Johnny Sauter scored his first career NASCAR Busch Series victory Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway, winning the Tropicana Twister 300 in a furious final-lap dash to the checkers.

	Johnny Sauter celebrates his first Busch Series victory. Credit: Autostock

Sauter was the race leader on lap 196 when fellow rookie Kasey Kahne got loose and slapped the Turn 4 wall, bringing the race to a halt under the red flag with four laps remaining.

Sauter then held off a furious charge from Todd Bodine and Jeff Burton to become the second consecutive first-time series winner in as many races at Chicago. Interestingly enough, Jimmie Johnson was the other in the very same car Bodine was driving Saturday.

Many young drivers might have lost their cool in Sauter's situation. On the contrary, Sauter was fine. He'd been there before.

"Fortunately, I had a good really season last year and was pretty familiar with that situation," said Sauter, who won 10 races and a championship last season in the American Speed Association. "I just kept my cool and here we are in Victory Lane."

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With the win, the 24-year-old rookie erased a season's worth of frustration, stemming from the astronomical expectations that come with taking over the car Kevin Harvick won the rookie of the year with two years ago and the championship last year.

"I pulled him aside yesterday and told him, don't let everyone screw you up," said Burton, Saturday's third-place finisher. "I told him to just pay attention to what you're doing. Don't pay attention to what you see in the paper or on TV.

Todd Bodine and Scott Riggs bring the field down for the green flag. Credit: Autostock

"The kid can obviously drive. Just because he couldn't drive what Kevin Harvick drove doesn't mean he can't drive. Young guys are expected to succeed immediately. That's a lot of pressure."

"This team really needed this bad, we had some tough weeks there," said an elated Sauter in Victory Lane. "We had a good car, came from 20th to first. This win gives this team the momentum it needs."

Sauter kept his momentum on the final restart to fend off Bodine -- a masterful talent at the fickle restart trade.

Scott Riggs holds his side after a hard hit with the outside wall. Credit: Autostock

"I tell ya, that restart was all motor," said Bodine, who won a barnburner three weeks ago at Kentucky. "I got a little jump, got a run, and the motor was so strong I pulled up next to (Sauter). But I scrubbed the front tires and it just wouldn't stick after that. It was a great run for us. This car is awesome."

To gain the win, Sauter needed a little luck. He was the race leader on lap 124 when Scott Riggs hit the wall to bring out the day's seventh caution.

Sauter pitted for fuel, and upon changing the right side tires it was discovered that a large gash was cut in the right rear tire. A few more seconds on the racetrack at full speed, the tire would likely have burst.