Consistent Sauter continues on towards Truck Series title

In a season filled with high-octane racing highlighted by photo-finishes (including the second-closest road course finish in NASCAR national series history, at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park), there has been one constant on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – Johnny Sauter.

The 36-year-old Wisconsin native currently ranks first in the series with a seven-point lead over teammate Matt Crafton and remains the only driver to appear in the top-five of the standings all season.

Don’t count on Sauter losing the top spot any time soon. Boasting a combined average finish of 8.8 at the remaining eight tracks, his chances of taking home his first NCWTS title are strong.

The next obstacle standing in Sauter’s way on his quest for his first Truck Series championship is Chicagoland Speedway, which hosts the Lucas Oil 225 on Friday night (8:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1).

“Things have been touch and go for us there in the trucks, but we’ve been quick there in the past and our stuff is usually pretty good on the intermediate tracks,” said Sauter of the 1.5-mile course located in Joliet, Illinois. “I’ve liked the track from the first time I got on it and I won my first Nationwide Series race there in 2002, so I’m looking forward to getting back there this weekend.”

Sauter is one of three drivers to have four top-10 finishes in the five NCWTS races previously held at Chicagoland Speedway (Kyle Busch and Matt Crafton are the others). He has registered fifth and eighth-place finishes since winning at Michigan to take the points lead.