DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following his on-track actions last weekend at Iowa Speedway, NASCAR has suspended NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series competitor Johnny Sauter for one race.
Sauter was found in violation of Sections 12.1.a; 12.2.b Emergency Action; 12.8.a,c,i NASCAR Member Conduct; 12.8.1.c Member Conduct Guidelines according to the NASCAR penalty report released on Tuesday afternoon.
The suspension stems from an on-track incident involving Sauter and fellow Truck Series competitor Austin Hill.
Sauter got into Hill going into turn one as they raced for position during Sunday’s M&M’s 200. Hill returned the favor a lap later by sending Sauter spinning in turns three and four, which ended with Sauter backing his truck into the outside wall.
The incident left Sauter fuming and he responded quickly, re-firing his No. 13 Ford F-150 and quickly catching back up to Hill’s Toyota Tundra. Sauter shoved Hill’s truck up into the outside wall before nosing into the Hill’s driver’s door and eventually driving off from the scene of the incident.
NASCAR promptly parked Sauter for the rest of the event and ordered both Sauter and Hill to come to the NASCAR hauler after the race.
Sauter, who already has one victory this year in Truck Series competition, will remain eligible for the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series playoffs. Sauter and his ThorSport Racing team do have the right to appeal NASCAR’s decision.
Since the suspension was announced, Sauter has posted an update on his Twitter account indicating he’d be racing a super late model at Wisconsin’s Dells Raceway Park on Saturday night instead of in the Truck Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Change of plans…Dells Raceway Park Saturday night Dick Trickle 99! Ya know a Real Racer #DickTrickle #SupportYourLocalShortTrack pic.twitter.com/SIxEDeUIbv
— Johnny Sauter (@JohnnySauter) June 18, 2019