Sauter Lucky Seven for Team Rock

GREENVILLE, SC (Oct. 9, 2001) - The No. 21 Rockwell Automation Racing Team will welcome back its seventh driver of the season this weekend in Memphis, TN. 2001 American Speedway Association Champion Johnny Sauter will run this weekend's Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park and finish out the 2001 season in the red and white racing machine.

"I really enjoyed racing the Rockwell Automation car and can't wait to get back in it," said Sauter, a 5th place finisher in his NASCAR Busch Series debut at Richmond (VA) in September. "The guys on the team are great and they really helped me get a good feel for the racetrack. Now that the ASA season is over, I can concentrate fully on running these last four races. I'm going to spend a lot of time at the shop talking with the team and really getting a feel of what I need to do to help us run up front."

The 23-year old Sauter is coming off an incredible rookie season on the ASA ACDelco Series circuit. He became the first driver in the series 34-year history to win both the National Championship and Rookie of the Year in the same season. With his win in the season finale at Indianapolis Raceway Park, he also became the first driver to ever win 10 events in a single season. His half-million dollars in earnings is also the highest of any driver in ASA history.

"It's hard for me to even describe the ASA season," added Sauter, who swept the ASA event at Memphis winning the Pole and race earlier this year. "It started out a little rocky, we were running good and 17th in the points. Then we went to my favorite track in Iowa, won the race and it's been a dream season from then on."

Team Rock is anxious to get Sauter back in their 2001 Monte Carlo. They were impressed with his run in Richmond and feel he has a lot of potential as a driver. They should know. The team has seen seven different drivers this season, yet they still maintain the fifth position in owner points.

"It's runs like the one Johnny gave us in Richmond that keep us so high in the points," stated crew chief Gil Martin. "In fact, we've had a number of drivers like Mike Skinner and Robby Gordon that have had good runs in the car and kept the momentum going. This team has stuck behind everyone of them and never let down. We're ready to put Johnny back in the car because he's a big morale boost to the team. He gets along with everybody and brings a great attitude to the racetrack."

After finishing the rest of the season in the No. 21 Chevy, Sauter will team up with RCR teammate Kevin Harvick and the two will share duties in the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet for 2002. Johnny's brother Jay and 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Champion Jeff Green will take turns in the No. 21 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet next season.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) is a $4.3 billion world-leading provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help customers meet their manufacturing productivity objectives. The company brings together leading brands in industrial automation for Complete Automation solutions, including Dodge mechanical power transmission products, Reliance Electric motors and drives, Allen-Bradley® controls and engineered services and Rockwell Software®. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., USA, the company employs approximately 23,500 people at more than 450 locations serving customers in more than 80 countries.