Sauter Set for Busch Debut with Team Rock

GREENVILLE, SC (Sept. 5, 2001) - American Speedway Association (ASA) standout Johnny Sauter will make his NASCAR Busch Series debut this week when he jumps in the No. 21 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet to compete in the Autolite FRAM 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. made the announcement in Michigan and plans on running the ASA rookie sensation in five races this season.

"Johnny has shown this year in the ASA Series that he has what it takes to get the job done and win races," stated Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, Inc. "He's young, has a lot of talent and obviously comes from a pretty successful racing family. The Rockwell Automation team is not running for the championship this season so we decided to get Johnny in the 21 car to get some experience behind the wheel of a Busch car before next season. It also gives him a chance to meet the guys on the team and get to know them so he won't be coming in cold in January."

The 23-year old, who will share duties in the No. 2 RCR Chevrolet with Kevin Harvick next season, is a regular on the ASA ACDelco Series. Driving the No. 9 A.P. Plasman Group Chevrolet, he holds the top spot in the driver point standings with 8 wins, 13 top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes through 18 races. With three remaining, he is on pace to become the first ASA driver to win both the National Championship and Rookie of the Year Award in the same year.

"I'm really looking forward to running a few races in the 21 car," stated Sauter. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime to drive for Richard Childress and Rockwell Automation. The switch from the ASA car to the Busch car will be major, but I'm surrounded by a lot of good people and as long as I give good input, things should go smoothly. The race Friday night will be a new experience for me and hopefully we can come away with a good finish."

Early last week, Sauter participated in a two-day test with Team Rock at Richmond to get him acclimated to the car and racetrack. During the test, he ran over 400 laps on the track's new surface impressing the team and crew chief Gil Martin.

"We were really pleased with Johnny during the test at Richmond," said Martin. "He had a lot of feel for a short track for his first time in a Busch car. He's very knowledgeable because he builds his own cars in the ASA Series and does a lot of the set-up work. He gave us some good feedback and has a positive outlook for the race. I think a top-10 finish is not out of the question."

Sauter is scheduled to run the red and white racing machine at Memphis Motorsports Park (Oct. 13), Phoenix International Raceway (Oct. 27), North Carolina Speedway (Nov. 3) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 10) throughout the rest of the 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.