American Speed Association: Travis Sauter looks to defend 2009 Oktoberfest championship

SAUTER AND SAUTER GO HEAD-TO-HEAD TO KEEP NAME IN THE HISTORY BOOKS

October 5, 2010 – The American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and grandstay.net is coming off of a five week break and heading into the final event of the season. Two champions will be crowned this Sunday afternoon at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway.

Last year, Travis Sauter added the Sauter name to the historic list of Oktoberfest Champions, while Steve Carlson was crowned the 2009 ASAMT Champion.

The 2009 Oktoberfest Champion was one of three father-son duo’s racing in the event last year. Passing his dad, Tim for the lead made his victory even more special. Unfortunately his dad will not be competing this year, but there is another Sauter that he would be just as honored to beat. Uncle Johnny Sauter is headed back to Wisconsin to compete in this year’s Oktoberfest event.

For the past three years, Travis Sauter has finished in the top five of the Oktoberfest event. In 2007, he finished fifth. He followed it up in 2008 with a third place finish, and took it straight to victory lane in 2009. His victory was not without a challenge from the 2009 ASAMT Champion, however. Steve Carlson was racing for a championship, but was not going to let Sauter off easy without letting him know he was there. In fact, he let him know by driving right up the driver’s side door of Sauter’s car going down the front stretch. When it did not work in his favor, Carlson settled back in line to protect his series championship.

When asked what it meant to beat the 2009 ASAMT Champion at his home track in such a huge event, Sauter shared a little secret. “Funny thing about Steve, he doesn’t know it, but he taught me how to drive that track when I followed him four years ago. Since that day, I have never finished outside of the top five in the Oktoberfest event.” No problem Travis, your secret is safe..

The driver of the #5 Cranberry Creek Cranberries and Habelman Bros. Cranberries sponsored Chevy, admits that his confidence has taken a hit in the 2010 season. A five week break has helped him forget the rest of the season and re-gather his thoughts. “We’ve done some testing and feel we’ve improved the car, so that helps. But honestly, going downstairs and looking at the trophy case and reminding myself that I can do it, is what builds my confidence the most going into this weekend.”

Qualifying has admittedly been one of the biggest hurdles for Sauter this season. “The competition level is the toughest it’s ever been. If I can qualify in the top ten, it will carry my confidence level into knowing I can repeat what I did last year,” Sauter said. While he did add that he started 25th the year he finished third, he also said that the competition is just too tough to try to win starting from the 20th position.

However, if anyone could make a run for the win starting in 20th position, it would be Travis Sauter. He is currently the Hedman Husler of the Race points leader and never ceases to give up, no matter where he starts. Yet he knows that there is a fine line between confidence and overconfidence. “If you go in overconfident, you’re going to get beat,” he added.

His uncle Johnny knows how important confidence is, and will be riding some momentum having won his last appearance in ASAMT action. Currently third in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points, Johnny Sauter earned a victory in the Dixieland 150 at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukana Wis., back in August.

“It would mean a lot to me to win Oktoberfest this weekend. Obviously I’m a racer so I want to win every race, but there are certain races you circle on your calendar and think to yourself, ‘now that would be a great race to win’ and Oktoberfest has always been one of those to me,” Johnny said. “Winning the Dixieland 150 earlier this year was one of the highlights of my late model racing career, but if I could win this weekend, I’d say that would be a pretty big deal and something that would mean a lot to me,” admitted Sauter.

Johnny did attend the event in 2009, was fast right off the truck, but wrecked in the first practice for the Dick Trickle 99, ending his weekend way too early. “I put a lot of preparation into last year’s race and it obviously didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. So this year, there’s that added pressure to go and be as fast as I was off the truck last year,” expressed Sauter.

This will be Sauter’s fourth time racing in the Oktoberfest event. He finished fifth in 1999, and the last time he raced in the event, he was running in the third spot only to get a flat tire with eight laps to go. He returns in 2010 with the intent to win, just like any other racing weekend. “I don’t think I ever enter a race thinking I’d just like a solid finish or just to have fun. The competitor inside me is always focused on winning.”

La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway’s Oktoberfest has an atmosphere all its own. Johnny Sauter’s favorite part is just being back in Wisconsin, doing what he loves, during one of the best weekends of the year. There is something about Wisconsin natives who look forward to racing when the weather is cold. Living in North Carolina, Johnny cannot wait to get back to the cold temperatures. However, that is not all this weekend means to him. “I love to come back and race when the weather is cold, but I also love having everyone there from my family to watch. That is what I’d say I am looking forward to the most about this weekend.”

Not only will his family be there to watch, but he will be competing alongside nephew, Travis Sauter. Travis admitted that the Sauter family is both each other’s biggest cheerleaders and each other’s biggest critics. “Johnny is the first one to tell me I’m driving like an idiot, and yet the first to tell me what I’m doing right. We talk all the time and share a lot of ideas,” Travis said.

When asked if following in Travis’ footsteps adds any additional pressure to this year’s event, Johnny explained that it does add pressure to go back out and do what Travis did last year. But it is not just the victory, it is giving the Sauter family a spot in the Oktoberfest history books. “I’d love to be able to continue that this year,” added Johnny.

If it comes down to Sauter versus Sauter for the victory, Travis affirmed that they would race each other hard and have even been known to take one another out when necessary. But when it comes down to it, they are both hard, competitive racers who are going to do whatever it takes to fight for the win.

Johnny also added, “Travis and I have raced against each other for a long time and if I couldn’t be the one to win the race last year, it definitely felt good to see him win.”

There is no doubt that this weekend will be another historic Oktoberfest weekend. The question remains, will the Sauter name be added to the record books for the second year in a row? And if so, which one will it be? The driver of the Habelman Bros. Cranberries sponsored Chevy? Or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, Uncle Johnny?

Before heading out to the track this weekend, be sure to stock up on some fresh picked Habelman Bros. Cranberries from any large grocery store chain in your area. Then pack up the long johns, hats and mittens, and get the wood for the fire, because while this weekend may be a little chilly, the competition will be hot.

For more information about this weekends events, http://www.oktoberfestraceweekend.com

To learn more about the American Speed Association® Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites, log on to http://www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

If you would like to learn more about the ASAMT series sponsors, please visit their websites: Kwik Trip, Inc. (http://www.kwiktrip.com), ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment (http://www.echo-usa.com), and GrandStay Residential Suites Hotels and Crossings by GrandStay Inn & Suites (http://www.grandstay.net).

To learn more about the Midwest Sportsman Tour log on to http://www.asamidwestsportsman.com.

To learn more about the ASA Midwest Truck Tour log on to http://www.asamidwesttrucks.com.

To learn more about the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association® Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association®, visit http://www.asaracing.com.

ASA®, ASA Racing®, and American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with the ASA Late Model Series.