Johnny Sauter Joins 2000 Rookie Class

JOHNNY SAUTER JOINS 2000 ASA ROOKIE CLASS Becomes Third Member of LaFavre Racing Teams

Pendleton, IN - LaFavre Racing Teams of Lakeville, MN, has announced that Johnny Sauter of Necedah, WI, will compete for rookie of the year honors in the 2000 ASA ACDelco Series. The 21-year-old Sauter will be joined by Ken Lund, who will serve as crew ch ief for the newly formed team.

Both Sauter and Lund have been with car owner Scott LaFavre during all or parts of the 1998 and '99 ASA campaigns. Sauter, whose brother Tim won the 1999 ASA ACDelco Series championship, made seven starts in 1998 under the LaFavre Racing Teams banner. He recorded a best finish of third at Pikes Peak International Raceway and one other top-ten outing.

"Johnny proved to me in 1998 that he has the skills to succeed at the ASA level," Scott LaFavre said. "Hopefully he can add to our record of accomplishment in ASA. I believe he brings the necessary enthusiasm and work ethic to our operation."

Sauter will join with fellow drivers Kevin Cywinski and Mike Garvey to form a three-car ASA team in the 2000 ASA ACDelco Series. "It's a great opportunity for me to join up with those guys and run for rookie," Sauter said. "There'll be a lot of knowledge there for me and I hope to capitalize on it and do what I came here to do. Scott has given me good equipment."

Lund was the 1984 ASA Rookie of the Year and has served as a full-time crew chief in ASA for the past two seasons. He worked with LaFavre Racing Teams ASA driver Mike Garvey in 1999. Garvey won four events in 1999, including three in a row during a late- season stretch. He finished fourth in the final points standings and topped all competitors with 1,212 laps led.

Cywinski earlier announced he would return to LaFavre Racing after two seasons with the Craftsman Truck and Busch Grand National Series. He was the 1996 ASA Rookie of the Year and 1997 National Champion.