Sauter beginning to make a move in Truck Series

Johnny Sauter, a veteran of the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series, recognized there would be an adjustment period in his first full season in the Camping World Truck Series. What he didn't completely grasp was its degree of difficulty.

"You don't realize how competitive it is until you get here," Sauter said. "It's opened my eyes."

Back-to-back fifth-place finishes going into Saturday's Copart 200 at Gateway International Raceway, show the significant progress Sauter and his No. 13 ThorSport Racing team have made in understanding what it takes to run at the front.

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"We're starting to round the corner week in and week out and I'm pretty excited about that," Sauter said. "We're making a push to finish the season pretty damn strong."

Joe Shear Jr. has been Sauter's crew chief for the past two races and he has made a contribution, but Sauter says there are "a million reasons" he's running stronger on a more consistent basis. Sauter has seven top-10s this season and three have been in the past four races.

"We finally got the trucks where we want them for a lot of places," Sauter said. "We've jelled as a team, the guys, myself, our pit stops. The whole package came together. The crew chief change has helped a little, too."

Sauter has moved up to a season-high 12th in points and is only 68 behind seventh-place David Starr.

"The top-10 [season finish] is definitely our goal, and I've been watching it pretty closely. We can get there," Sauter said. "The way we're running, I'll be disappointed if we don't end up sixth or seventh in points."

Sauter made his NASCAR debut in the Nationwide Series in 2001 and was a regular in the series from 2002 through 2006. He has three victories and was eighth in the points standings in 2003 and 2006. Sauter also has 76 starts in Cup, including a full season in 2007 when he finished 30th in points with Haas CNC Racing.

Without a full-time ride last season, Sauter drove in one truck, nine Cup and 12 Nationwide races.

"I was beating the pavement last winter to find something to drive, and there was an opportunity with [ThorSport owner] Duke Thorson," Sauter said. "I'd run some truck races in the past [11 spread through five seasons] and had always enjoyed it. When somebody gave me an opportunity to race full time again, I was all about it."

Sauter, 31, leads the rookie of the year standings on Tayler Malsam 176-163. If Sauter wins, it would become his first rookie-of-the-year award in NASCAR.

"Without a doubt, I'd like to win it," Sauter said. "I had mixed emotions about being eligible for it starting out the year. But rules are rules, and hey, I'm a rookie. Anytime you set out for something and you accomplish it, it's good. And if I win it, that's all more positive for my guys."

Sauter would like to continue to race for ThorSport in the Truck Series next year.

"I'm totally happy and would love to be back where I'm at," he said. "I'd like to keep doing what we're doing. I feel like we're on the verge of doing something great here."