Johnny Sauter has been around the block a few times.
When the veteran truck driver piloted his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2003 at 25 years old, former GMS teammate Kaz Grala inched closer to turning lucky number … five. Yes, as in f-i-v-e years old.
MORE: Breaking down Sauter’s 2017 season
But that’s exactly why Sauter considers himself lucky. Not many drivers can say they’ve raced (usually upfront) for 14 years in one of NASCAR’s three premier levels. Throw in a 2016 championship and 17 Truck Series victories? It’s a career most could only dream of … and it’s become reality for the Wisconsin native. Something he doesn’t take lightly, either.
” … You know old cats like me, you don’t know how many lives you’ve got left,” Johnny Sauter said jokingly at the end of last season. “It’s a different world than when I first came along.”
On the day of the 2017 championship race, with Sauter chasing a second consecutive title, GMS announced its longtime driver would be back in the lineup for the following season behind the wheel of the No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado.
“You know GMS, I’m not just blowing smoke here, it’s an awesome organization,” Sauter said at the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series banquet on Dec. 9, 2017. “We’ve got a lot of cool stuff there. They just continue to make it better. I’m a big Chevy guy so to be able to race a Chevy is important to me.
“I’ve got a great group of guys, Joe (Shear) is obviously my crew chief. I’ve known him since I was a kid. … It’s a good atmosphere. It’s a fun place to be. Obviously we are running well so it’s all good.”
With an extension and strong relationships under his belt with his team, Sauter has high hopes for the 2018 season. He plans on building off a career-best four wins (two in the playoffs) and 455 laps led in 2017.
However, it doesn’t really matter what happens because as long as he has a car to work on, he is going to be racing … no question about it.
“I’m addicted to that stuff,” Sauter said of Late Model racing. “I spend a lot of time in the shop working on my own stuff. I build everything myself and race it.
… At the end of the day, I’m a racer.”
A racer, who isn’t going away anytime soon. Buckle up.