Who says you can’t go home again? Johnny Sauter is proof you can.
Just over a month after unexpectedly losing his Gander Outdoors Truck Series ride with GMS Racing, Sauter has returned to ThorSport Racing, just in time for Friday’s NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
Sauter announced that he has rejoined ThorSport on Tuesday’s edition of RaceHub on Fox Sports 1.
“I’m returning home,” Sauter said. “I couldn’t be more proud of going back there and running for a championship.”
ThorSport expands to four full-time Truck entries with Sauter returning. He’ll be teammates with Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, Myatt Snider and Grant Enfinger. Snider will drive in select races for the team.
Sauter also will have longtime crew chief Joe Shear Jr. back with him for the 2019 season.
“He’s like an old pair of shoes for me,” Sauter smiled, alluding to how comfortable he is with Shear. “I think we’ll pick up right where we left off, racing for wins.”
Sauter raced for ThorSport from 2009-15, scoring 10 wins. He moved to GMS Racing for 2016-18 before he found himself out of a ride on January 9.
“It was just a business decision,” Sauter said. “The guy that took my place (defending Truck Series champ Brett Moffitt) probably works a little cheaper. Just kidding.
“You can let it bother you or you just move on. I’ve never raced a Ford, so I’m looking forward to working with their engineers and people.”
Sauter flew into Daytona Tuesday and is ready to go for Friday night’s race.
“Daytona is a crapshoot,” he said. “I’ve been wrecked there on Lap 1 and I’ve won there. You have to manage your expectations going into that race, have to put your best effort forward and be patient all night long.”
Sauter, a native of Necedah, Wisconsin, won his lone Truck Series championship in his first season with GMS in 2016, was second in 2017 and fourth last season.
Sauter has 244 career starts in a Truck, with 23 wins. He also has 85 Cup races without a win and 207 Xfinity starts with three wins.