by Gregg Paul
Travis Sauter has a simple plan when it comes to racing.
“We try to go to them all to win, so that’s the plan and we’re 2 for 2 here in Wisconsin this year,” said Sauter. “The recent success has been many things coming together. There is not one reason or one secret that all of a sudden made things click, it has been building for probably five years. The most important things that have led to success are the people I have helping, whether it be crew or sponsors.”
That certainly seems like a simple enough plan, until you realize the strength of the competition that Sauter faces in the ARCA Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings. Not only does he have the Touring Stars to deal with, but he usually will face the best talent in short track racing at every track and every race.
Still when you look at the past few seasons, Sauter has had the kind of hot streak that isn’t seen too often. Perhaps not since the barnstorming days of his grandfather Jim Sauter.
Travis Sauter collected seven wins out of the twelve races he entered in 2012. The signature win of that season had to be his win in the inaugural The Swiss Colony Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at the Milwaukee Mile. Sauter picked up his second consecutive win at Oktoberfest and his third overall in the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway main event.
Combining 2012 with the first part of the 2013 racing campaign, Sauter has won seven consecutive features at Madison International Speedway. Just two weeks ago he picked up the win at Dells Raceway Park in the Cabin Fever 100.
2012 was a great season and Sauter knew it.
“What a great season we had,” said Sauter. “There are a few races each year that are an extra big deal and to win these types of races is really special.”
Over the past few seasons it doesn’t really seem to matter where Travis Sauter has been racing. The car has been extremely fast, and Sauter has been a threat to win everywhere he has raced. They say every streak will come to an end, but that doesn’t even seem to be a thought that enters into Sauter’s mind.
“It’s tough to maintain the success level we’ve attained recently, but our whole group continues to work hard and not get complacent,” said Sauter. “We had a really good car again, it wasn’t perfect toward the end, but we had enough left to hold on for the win. I think racing for wins works for me personally. I’m very detail oriented and very picky about things, so doing things the way I want them done just works for my style. That goes for the schedule I run as well as the way the car is prepared. Races are hard to win, if you’re not well prepared and not focused you have no chance. I like to feel like I’m ready when I leave the shop.”
Race drivers have rarely said that they have had a perfect race car. They are always looking to make it better. Yet somehow the best of drivers manage to take their “imperfect” cars and find a way to get them to victory lane. When you consider the kind of success that Travis Sauter has had over the past few seasons, perhaps the competition will have to be better prepared to try to end the hot streak. If Sauter can consistently take a car that isn’t perfect to the checkers, what will happen if he ever finds that perfect car?
“It’s probably impossible to win every race, but we are sure going to try,” said Sauter. “The key is to keep preparing 100% and hopefully have some good luck.”
Sauter’s next try for a win will come on June 8th at Dells Raceway Park as he returns to the ARCA Midwest Tour for the Wisconsin Dells 100. Sauter survived the carnage on his last visit to DRP and is certainly one of the favorites heading into this race.
Qualifying set to get underway at 5pm. The autograph session will begin at 6pm with racing to follow at 7pm. For complete race day details go to arcamidwesttour.com.
Be sure to follow the ARCA Midwest Tour on Facebook (midwesttour) and Twitter (@midwesttour).
To learn more about the Automobile Racing Club of America Midwest Tour, log on toarcamidwesttour.com. For questions call the ARCA Midwest Tour office at (262) 729-4111 or Tim Olson at (612) 327-5831 or Steve Einhaus (630) 212-6022 at or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@arcamidwesttour.comor Steve Einhaus at steve@arcamidwesttour.com.
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways.
