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GNC Live Well 250 - Jay Sauter Notes Sauter Carries Momentum to Home Track Milwaukee, WI (June 26, 2001) … When Jay Sauter and the Quality Farm Stores/ Morton Salt Racing Team pull into the Milwaukee Mile on Friday for the GNC Live Well 250, they will bring with them a lot of momentum. After all, Sauter captured his first career Bud Pole in the NASCAR Busch Series in the last race, the Outback Steakhouse 300 at the Kentucky Speedway on June 16th. Along with capturing the pole, Sauter finished a strong ninth in the 200-lap, 300-mile event. “Winning the pole at Kentucky for their inaugural Busch race was a big lift for this team,” Sauter commented. “When rain postponed qualifying to Saturday, being the second car out really helped, but I had to sweat out all those other fast cars before we could celebrate.” It marked the first time in his forty-eight race NASCAR Busch Series career that Sauter starting from the top spot. Now, Sauter and his Quality Farm Stores team come to a track that is very familiar to the Wisconsin native. “I guess I started coming to The Milwaukee Mile with my dad (Jim) when I was about twelve years old. Tim (younger brother) and I would go with dad to the USAC races at the mile when they were in conjunction with the state fair. Dad used to win a lot at Milwaukee and was very popular, so it was a fun time for all of us.” The oldest of twelve Sauter children, Jay began his racing career on the short tracks of Wisconsin when he was seventeen. He competed in the Sportsman class at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway and Wisconsin Dells Speedway in the early years. As Jay Sauter gained more experience, he started racing four nights at week at tracks like LaCrosse, Madison International Speedway, the Dells, and Golden Sands Speedway. Then, in 1982, Sauter began competing in the ARTGO Series and traveling throughout the Midwest. In 1984, Jay Sauter moved up to the ASA (American Speed Association) to compete with some of the top drivers in the Midwest. He ran for rookie-of-the-year in ’84 and made his first career start at The Milwaukee Mile. “I’ll certainly never forget that ASA race at Milwaukee,” Sauter recalls. “I was running great until I got in an accident. It was an accident where I injured my spinal cord and was forced to miss several races. Missing those races cost me the rookie crown in ASA that season, but I was able to recover and get back racing again.” His success in the ASA ranks led to Sauter being chosen by Richard Childress to drive his truck in the newly-formed Craftsman Truck Series. In three plus years in the NASCAR Truck Series, Sauter had four wins and two poles. In his 86 career truck races, Sauter finished in the top five 27 times and recorded fifty top ten finishes. Sauter competed at The Milwaukee Mile four times in the truck series, qualifying third twice, fifth, and seventh. In 1997, Sauter finished second and two years later ran ninth. Certainly impressive statistics for any competitor, but there was one thing missing. Last year, Sauter moved to the Busch Series ranks and drove the Quality Farm Stores Chevrolet for Curb-Agajanian Motorsports. In his rookie season, Sauter posted one top five and eight top-ten finishes, and won over $550,000. In last years Busch race at The Milwaukee Mile, Sauter qualified 23rd and finished 27th. In the competitive world of Busch Series racing, Sauter put up good numbers. But, there was still one thing missing. The missing piece of the Sauter puzzle was a trip to victory lane at The Milwaukee Mile. Jim Sauter (Jay’s father) had wins there (Milwaukee) in USAC and ASA. Brother Tim won at The Mile in the All-Pro Series. But, the oldest Sauter brother has yet to park in victory lane at one of the nations oldest, most historic tracks. That’s why this trip to Milwaukee is “special” for Jay Sauter. “I’m coming to Milwaukee with probably my best shot at winning I’ve had in a long time,” Sauter added. “This Quality Farm Stores/Morton Salt team has worked hard this season and our finishes have not reflected how well we have run. Winning the pole at Kentucky was big for this team. It brought attention to this team that has not received their credit due. Now, it’s time to take the momentum we have and click off a string of top tens and top fives. Of course, I’d love to win my first Busch Series race at Milwaukee. To have all my friends and family there to enjoy it with would really be a thrill. And, if things go right, it very well could happen.” It would be, without question, the most joyous victory lane ceremony the Milwaukee Mile has seen in many years. And, the missing piece on the resume would be complete.
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