Sauter brothers share first tripleheader

By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
November 8, 2001
11:57 AM EST (1657 GMT)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Given the odds, it's safe to say there will be a Sauter near or at the front of Saturday’s GNC Live Well 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Jay Sauter

With the addition of Jay Sauter Wednesday to the entry list of Saturday’s season finale NBS event, there will now be three Sauter brothers in the race, a first-time event for the storied Wisconsin racing family.

Older brother Jay will pilot the No. 25 U.S. Marines Chevrolet while younger brother Tim Sauter will steer the No. 9 A.P. Performance Chevrolet. Youngest brother Johnny, already a winner this season after capturing 10 of 20 events and the series title in the American Speed Association’s ACDelco Challenge Series, will round out the triumvirate in the No. 21 Rockwell Chevy.

"This is a first for us," Tim Sauter said. "The three of us have raced in thousands of races, but never all three in a race together -- not even as kids. To think that we're going to do it in a NASCAR Busch Series race is pretty neat."

Tim Sauter

While this will be the first time the three brothers have competed against each other, it's not the first time the Sauter name has shown up three times on the same lineup card.

"Tim and I actually raced with my dad, Jim, one time in a Late Model Stock Car race at Oregon, Wis.," Jay said. "I can't remember who got the best of things that day, but I know it was a great time.

“It was very competitive between the three of us and I'm pretty sure that's the way it will be at Miami between Tim, Johnny and me."

The Miami Busch Series event will actually be a preview of next season when the three brothers will race in the Busch Series on a regular basis.

Johnny Sauter

"This is something we've always dreamed about," Tim said. "My dad was a great racer for a lot of years, both back at home in Wisconsin and around the Midwest, but also in the NASCAR Winston Cup ranks. I'm sure he's very proud of us.

“Depending on how things turn out at Miami, it should make for some pretty good conversation back home during the upcoming holiday season."

The Miami 300 will take the green flag Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET. The event will be televised live by NBC and will be broadcast live on the affiliate network of MRN Radio.