Trackin’ Trucks: Johnny Sauter Wins at Dover

Johnny Sauter celebrates his victory at Dover.

Credit: Matt Sullivan

Johnny Sauter earned his first Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory of the season in the Jegs 200 at Dover International Speedway.

Sauter led 43 laps and secured the Stage 2 win, before holding off pole sitter Brett Moffitt by .603 seconds. The win is Sauter’s third straight at the Monster Mile.

“When you get kicked to the curb, you feel like you have a lot to prove,” Sauter said in Victory Lane. “I have to thank (owners) Duke and Rhonda Thorson most importantly — a couple months ago I didn’t know if I’d be racing.

“To get three in a row here is extra special. I have to thank these guys. I was highly motivated. I shut the motor off earlier today in the race and it wouldn’t re-fire and I was like, ‘Oh well.’ Track position was so important, but experience paid off.”

Moffitt led 81 laps and earned his fourth top-five finish of the season.

Sauter attempted to save fuel under a caution for an incident between Austin Wayne Self and Todd Gilliland, but the ThorSport Racing driver had trouble re-firing his No. 13 Ford. Sauter restarted eighth and recaptured the lead on Lap 170.

Harrison Burton finished third, earning him his first top-five since finishing fifth at Las Vegas. Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five.

Ben Rhodes finished sixth, Austin Hill finished seventh, Derek Kraus finished eighth, Tyler Ankrum finished ninth, and Ross Chastain finished 10th.

A Look Ahead

The Gander Outdoors Truck Series head to Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 10th.

Grant Enfinger is the series points leader by six points over Sauter. Stewart Friesen, who finished 12th on Friday night, is third.

Defending champion Moffitt is fourth, 14 points behind Enfinger.

Can Sauter secure his second victory at Kansas? Or will someone else clinch their way into the 2019 playoffs?

Find out on May 10th at 8:30 p.m/ET on Fox Sports 1.