Tim Sauter endured a roller-coaster ride in the Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 250 Saturday at the Martinsville Speedway. Three lucky dog passes weren t enough to overcome a late electrical issue that left the #07 Lester Buildings Silverado in 29th place behind winner Mike Skinner.
Following the morning qualifying session the entire Green Light Racing team felt a huge sigh of relief. Sauter s time of 20.09 seconds on the tricky half-mile track placed the #07 Chevy the fourteenth starting position, by far the team s best starting spot of the young season. “I messed up a little in turn two on the second lap or we might have been able to go a little quicker, I m real happy to start in the top-half of the field. ” Sauter said following qualifying. Sauter s luck would soon change.
When the green flag fell Sauter got caught in the high grove and was freight-trained by numerous trucks. The first yellow fell on lap eight and the Green Light team gave up track position for some chassis adjustments restarting in 34th place. Soon after going a lap down to Mike Skinner, Sauter caught the first of three lucky dog passes on lap 31 following a caution for a spin by Chase Miller. “The truck was super loose at the start, ” he explained following the race.
Sauter continued to run near the back of the lead lap and compounding the handling issues he reported the motor was not running as well as it had in practice. “I think we have a fuel or carburetor problem. I m only turning 9,000 rpm. ” Sauter again lost a lap to the leaders but was awarded his second lucky dog on lap 89. The Green Light team was able to repair the motor iss
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