Johnny Sauter wins second straight Trucks Series Chase race

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Johnny Sauter is still alone in qualifying for the title-deciding race in the first Chase in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Sauter won his second consecutive playoff race Friday night with a late pass of Chase contender Matt Crafton, getting a victory at Texas that prevented anyone else from clinching a spot to contend for the championship in the finale at Homestead in two weeks.

"This is amazing," Sauter said after climbing out of the No. 21 Chevrolet in Victory Lane. "I feel very lucky to be here. ... Matt was content to keep running the bottom, so I'm going to the top."

Just before reaching the line with two laps remaining, Sauter went high and passed Crafton for the lead.

Tony Stewart bobblehead coming to Chase race

There were only three yellow flags in the 147-lap race, each after the caution clock had expired. Crafton took the lead after the final restart.

But just like at Texas in June, Crafton got passed on the high side late and finished second. Rookie driver William Byron, another Chase contender, beat him five months ago after his winning pass with five laps remaining.

"It is what it is," Crafton said. "I'm not worried about the Chase. I'm worried about winning races. The Chase will take care of itself."

It was Sauter's third win this season. He won the opener at Daytona and last week at Martinsville to earn the first of four spots available for a chance to win the inaugural Chase championship for trucks.

James: Up to Joey Logano to end Ford's Sprint Cup title drought

With only next week's race at Phoenix before the finale at Homestead, there are still three spots up for grab.

The next four drivers after Sauter in the points — Bryon, Christopher Bell, Crafton and Timothy Peters — are separated by only five points. Ben Kennedy is the sixth driver still in Chase contention.

If Sauter or a non-Chase contender win at Phoenix, the final three spots would be determined by points.

Polesitter Spencer Gallagher, who led three times for 88 laps, was in front with the final caution came out. But he dropped six spots on pit race and restarted seventh on the restart with 18 laps to go, when Sauter and Crafton got out front.

The only 15 laps Sauter led were those right after the final caution. Sauter led twice for only six laps.

"I was able to throw caution to the wind," Sauter said.

Sauter did offer one apology after the race. That was to the fans for not doing a customary extended burnout on the frontstretch of the 1½-mile, high-banked track.

"I know that was lame," he said. "I've got to have this truck for Homestead."

Joe Gibbs Racing gives full-time seat to driver for 2017 just months after brain tumor operation

Striping Technology 350

Friday's results at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway (starting position in parentheses):

1. (16) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 147 laps, 121.3 rating, 36 points.

2. (7) Matt Crafton, Toyota, 147, 110.6, 32.

3. (2) Daniel Hemric, Ford, 147, 129.2, 31.

4. (5) Tyler Reddick, Ford, 147, 100.1, 29.

5. (10) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 147, 88.8, 0.

6. (3) William Byron, Toyota, 147, 103.0, 27.

7. (1) Spencer Gallagher, Chevrolet, 147, 132.1, 28.

8. (22) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 147, 86.1, 25.

9. (12) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 147, 90.5, 24.

10. (17) Cameron Hayley, Toyota, 147, 86.3, 23.

11. (9) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 147, 107.4, 22.

12. (15) Rico Abreu, Toyota, 147, 73.1, 21.

13. (14) Ben Kennedy, Chevrolet, 147, 70.2, 20.

14. (6) Timothy Peters, Toyota, 147, 77.0, 19.

15. (8) Ben Rhodes, Toyota, 147, 71.3, 18.

16. (21) Shane Lee, Chevrolet, 147, 63.6, 17.

17. (4) Matt Tifft, Toyota, 147, 62.5, 16.

18. (19) John Hunter Nemechek, Chevrolet, 146, 70.7, 15.

19. (20) Austin Hill, Ford, 145, 55.5, 14.

20. (13) Jesse Little, Toyota, 145, 55.3, 13.

21. (18) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 144, 41.0, 12.

22. (30) Austin Wayne Self, Toyota, 144, 46.8, 11.

23. (24) Casey Smith, Chevrolet, 144, 48.0, 10.

24. (25) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, vibration, 143, 44.8, 0.

25. (27) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 143, 47.5, 8.

26. (23) Tyler Young, Chevrolet, 143, 39.5, 7.

27. (29) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 142, 36.8, 6.

28. (11) Cody Coughlin, Toyota, 141, 36.6, 5.

29. (28) Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 140, 32.2, 4.

30. (32) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 138, 27.8, 3.

31. (26) Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, accident, 61, 28.0, 2.

32. (31) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, engine, 22, 23.3, 1.

———

Race Statistics

Average Speed of Race Winner: 148.276 mph.

Time of Race: 1 hour, 29 minutes, 13 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 0.836 seconds.

Caution Flags: 3 for 12 laps.

Lead Changes: 7 among 4 drivers.

Lap Leaders: S.Gallagher 1-40; D.Hemric 41-75; S.Gallagher 76-83; D.Hemric 84-86; S.Gallagher 87-126; J.Sauter 127-129; M.Crafton 130-144; J.Sauter 145-147

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): S.Gallagher, 3 times for 85 laps; D.Hemric, 2 times for 36 laps; M.Crafton, 1 time for 14 laps; J.Sauter, 2 times for 4 laps.

Wins: W.Byron, 6; M.Crafton, 2; J.Nemechek, 2; J.Sauter, 2; C.Bell, 1; B.Kennedy, 1; T.Reddick, 1.

Top 10 in Points: 1. J.Sauter, 3036; 2. C.Bell, 3029; 3. T.Peters, 3028; 4. W.Byron, 3025; 5. M.Crafton, 3016; 6. B.Kennedy, 3015; 7. D.Hemric, 2084; 8. J.Nemechek, 2069; 9. C.Custer, 432; 10. T.Reddick, 428.