| Jim Sauter | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1943-06-01)June 1, 1943 Necedah, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | October 31, 2014(2014-10-31) (aged 71) | ||||||
| Achievements | 1981ARTGO Challenge Series Champion 1982ARTGO Challenge Series Champion 1983 All American 400 winner 1980National Short Track Championship winner | ||||||
| NASCARCup Series career | |||||||
| 76 races run over 14 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 33rd (1989) | ||||||
| First race | 1980National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1996Goody's Headache Powder 500 (Bristol) | ||||||
| |||||||
| NASCARO'Reilly Auto Parts Series career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 80th (1996) | ||||||
| First race | 1989Ames/Peak 200 (Dover) | ||||||
| Last race | 2002GNC Live Well 250 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| |||||||
| NASCARCraftsman Truck Series career | |||||||
| 2 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 81st (1999) | ||||||
| First race | 1999goracing.com 200 (Michigan) | ||||||
| Last race | 2004Black Cat Fireworks 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| |||||||
James Sauter (June 1, 1943 – October 31, 2014) was an Americanstock car racing driver fromNecedah, Wisconsin. He formerly raced in all three ofNASCAR's national series, and is best known for having been a test driver for theInternational Race of Champions, as well as winning two championships in the Midwest-basedARTGO Challenge Series.

Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified atRaceway Park inSavage, Minnesota.[1] He moved up tolate models the following year.[1] Sauter moved toWisconsin. He won the first race at the LaCrosse Interstate Fairgrounds (nowLaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway) on July 14, 1970.[2] His career took off after he won the North Star 500 at theMinnesota State Fair in aDave MarcisChevelle.[1] Sauter said "The funny thing about that race was the fact that we had a barn full of various brands of tires that we wanted to use up and ended up with Goodyear on the outside and Firestone on the inside for no other reason than that. Everyone thought it must be the hot tip."[1] Marcis called Sauter in 1978 and asked him to drive his racecar in the ARCA 200. Sauter battled Bruce Hill for the win on the last lap. They crashed, with Hill ending his race along the wall and Sauter won.[1]
Sauter raced part time in the NASCARWinston Cup Series in the 1980s and 1990s,[3] posting four top-ten finishes in 76 starts. He said his biggest thrill was leading the1982 Daytona 500. He was an independent (non-factory) driver with limited funds. To help pay the bills, Sauter did Goodyear tire tests along with Marcis.[3]
Sauter raced primarily in the ARTGO and ASA series. Sauter returned to Wisconsin to win the 1981 track championship atWisconsin International Raceway.[4] Sauter won the 1981 and 1982 ARTGO championships with sixteen of twenty career victories in those years (seven in 1981 and nine in 1982).[5] Sauter won several major regional races including the 1980 National Short Track Championship atRockford Speedway and the 1983 All American 400 atNashville Fairgrounds Speedway.[5] He also competed at theSlinger Nationals,Snowball Derby,Winchester 400 and the World Crown.[5]
His sonsTim,Jay, andJohnny have followed his footsteps by racing on theNASCAR circuit. His other son Jim, Jr. has raced on regional events along with his grandsonTravis Sauter.[6] Sauter raced in his final NASCARNationwide Series at theMilwaukee Mile racing against Tim, Jay and Johnny in 2002, the only time in NASCAR history where a father raced against three of his sons.[5] None of Sauter's seven daughters nor his son Joe are involved in racing.[3][5]
Sauter and rivalJoe Shear are connected in another way; Shear's eponymous son became son Johnny's crew chief in theNASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, winning Daytona and the series championship.
Sauter was also well known for preparing the setups and testingInternational Race of Champions (IROC) cars withDick Trickle andDave Marcis.
Sauter died following a brief illness on October 31, 2014. He was 71 years old.[7]
| Season | Series | Team name | No. | Races | Wins | Poles | Top tens | Final placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | USAC Stock Car | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1970 | Late model stock car | - | - | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | - |
| 1971 | Late model stock car | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 1972 | Late model stock car | - | 5 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 13 | - |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2+ | 0 | 0 | 2+ | - | |
| 1973 | Late model stock car | - | - | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | - |
| 1974 | Late model stock car | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2+ | 0 | 0 | 1+ | - | |
| 1975 | Late model stock car | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - |
| 1976 | ARCA Racing Series | - | 02 | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Late model stock car | - | - | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | - | |
| 1977 | NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division | - | 02 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - |
| ARCA Racing Series | Marcis Auto Racing | 02 | 2+ | 0 | 0 | 2+ | - | |
| USAC Stock Car | Larry Wehrs | 02 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | |
| Late model stock car | - | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | - | |
| 1978 | ARCA Racing Series | - | 02 | 2+ | 1 | 1 | 2+ | - |
| USAC Stock Car | Sauter Racing | 50/58 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | |
| 1979 | NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division | - | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 1+ | - | |
| USAC Stock Car | Gene Wheeler | 39 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | |
| 1980 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | RahMoc Enterprises | 05 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 109th |
| NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division | - | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| ASA National Tour | - | 7/27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | - | |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 21 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 3rd | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 1+ | - | |
| 1981 | ASA National Tour | - | 17 | 4+ | 1 | 0 | 3+ | - |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 19+ | 7 | 0 | 18+ | 1st | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| 1982 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Jim Stacy | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 62nd |
| ASA National Tour | Howe Racing | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | |
| All Pro Super Series | - | 5 | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 1+ | - | |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 15+ | 9 | 0 | 15+ | 1st | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2+ | 1 | 0 | 2+ | 3rd | |
| 1983 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Ulrich Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68th |
| ASA National Tour | Howe Racing | 5 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 11 | - | |
| All Pro Super Series | Howe Racing | 5 | 3+ | 1 | 0 | 2+ | - | |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 23+ | 1 | 0 | 15+ | 3rd | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2+ | 0 | 0 | 2+ | - | |
| 1984 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Ulrich Racing | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88th |
| NASCAR All-American Challenge Series | - | 4 | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 1+ | 42nd | |
| ASA National Tour | Howe Racing | 5 | 14+ | 4 | 1 | 10+ | - | |
| All Pro SSuper Series | - | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5th | |
| 1985 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Mueller Brothers | 89 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50th |
| NASCAR All-American Challenge Series | - | 29 | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| ASA National Tour | Howe Racing | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9th | |
| All Pro Super Series | - | 15 | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| 1986 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | RahMoc Enterprises | 75 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49th |
| 1987 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Mueller Brothers | 89 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 54th |
| 1988 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Mueller Brothers | 89 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44th |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | |
| 1989 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Bob Clark | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 33rd |
| NASCAR Busch Series | John Pharo | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104th | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3rd | |
| 1990 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Dick Johnson | 38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58th |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 19th | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 3+ | 0 | 0 | 3+ | 9th | |
| 1991 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Mueller Brothers | 89 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43rd |
| ARCA Racing Series | - | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 141st | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2+ | 1 | 0 | 2+ | - | |
| 1992 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Marcis Auto Racing | 71 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37th |
| ARCA Racing Series | Roulo Brothers Racing | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 149th | |
| ASA National Tour | - | 20 | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 2+ | 1 | 0 | 2+ | - | |
| 1993 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Mueller Brothers | 89 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47th |
| NASCAR All Pro Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| ARCA Racing Series | Roulo Brothers Racing | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 131st | |
| ARTGO Challenge Series | - | - | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Red, White, and Blue State Championship Series | - | - | 1+ | 0 | 0 | 1+ | - | |
| 1996 | NASCAR Winston Cup Series | Team SABCO | 42 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52nd |
| NASCAR Busch Series | Bown Racing | 51 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80th | |
| 1997 | NASCAR Busch Series | Shoemaker Racing | 64 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86th |
| 1999 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Richard Childress Racing | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 81st |
| 2002 | NASCAR Busch Series | Richard Childress Racing | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107th |
| Midwest AllStar Racing Series | - | 5S | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| 2004 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Curb Agajanian Performance Group | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83rd |
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Jim Stacy Racing | Buick | 17 | 12 |
| 1983 | Ulrich Racing | Chevrolet | 20 | 18 |
| 1984 | U.S. Racing | DNQ | ||
| 1985 | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 28 | 23 |
| 1986 | 27 | 25 | ||
| 1987 | DNQ | |||
| 1988 | QL† | |||
| 1989 | Bob Clark Motorsport | Pontiac | DNQ | |
| 1990 | Group 44 | Pontiac | DNQ | |
| 1991 | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 21 | 23 |
| 1992 | DNQ | |||
| 1993 | Ford | 39 | 19 | |
| 1994 | DNQ | |||
| 1995 | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | |
| 1996 | DNQ | |||
| 1999 | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | |
| 2000 | DNQ | |||
| † - Qualified but replaced byMichael Waltrip | ||||
| NASCARBusch Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | NBGNC | Pts | Ref | |
| 1989 | Pharo Racing | 33 | Olds | DAY | CAR | MAR | HCY | DAR | BRI | NZH | SBO | LAN | NSV | CLT | DOV | ROU | LVL | VOL | MYB | SBO | HCY | DUB | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV 26 | MAR | CLT | CAR | MAR | 104th | 0 | [28] | ||||||
| 1996 | DAJ Racing | 32 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | NSV | DAR | BRI | HCY | NZH | CLT | DOV | SBO | MYB | GLN | MLW QL† | NHA | TAL | IRP | 80th | 115 | [29] | |||||||||||||||||
| Bown Racing | 51 | Chevy | MCH 16 | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAR | HOM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Shoemaker Racing | 64 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | LVS | DAR | HCY | TEX | BRI | NSV | TAL | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | SBO | GLN | MLW | MYB 16 | GTY | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAL | CAR | HOM | 86th | 115 | [30] | |||||
| 2002 | Richard Childress Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | LVS | DAR | BRI | TEX | NSH | TAL | CAL | RCH | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | NSH | KEN | MLW 29 | DAY | CHI | GTY | PPR | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | KAN | CLT | MEM | ATL | CAR | PHO | HOM | 107th | 76 | [31] | |
| † - Qualified forDale Jarrett | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NASCARCraftsman Truck Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | NCTC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||
| 1999 | Richard Childress Racing | 8 | Chevy | HOM | PHO | EVG | MMR | MAR | MEM | PPR | I70 | BRI | TEX | PIR | GLN | MLW | NSV | NZH | MCH 10 | NHA | IRP | GTY | HPT | RCH | LVS | LVL | TEX | CAL | 81st | 139 | [32] | |||||||||||||
| 2004 | Curb-Agajanian Performance Group | 43 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | MAR | MFD | CLT | DOV | TEX | MEM | MLW 13 | KAN | KEN | GTW | MCH | IRP | NSH | BRI | RCH | NHA | LVS | CAL | TEX | MAR | PHO | DAR | HOM | 83rd | 124 | [33] | |||||||||||||
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | AHSSC | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | Marcis Auto Racing | 02 | Dodge | SLM | DAY 22 | QCS | FMS | TAL | QCS | AVS | SLM | FRS | TOL | NSV | TOL | SLM | NA | 0 | [34] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977 | TOL | DAY 2* | QCS | BFS | NSV | FRS | TOL | SLM | AVS | TAL 2 | TOL | SND | SLM | NA | 0 | [35] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978 | DAY 1 | QCS | AVS | NSV | IMS | LOR | FRS | TAL 2 | FRS | CMS | JEF | 10th | 390 | [36] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | Marcis Auto Racing | Chevy | DAY DNQ | DSP | FRS | FRS | BFS | TAL | FRS | COR | NA | - | [37] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991 | Roulo Brothers Racing | 26 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | KIL | TAL | TOL | FRS | POC | MCH | KIL | FRS | DEL | POC | TAL | HPT | MCH 41 | ISF | TOL | DSF | TWS | ATL | 141st | - | [38] | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | 39 | DAY | FIF | TWS | TAL | TOL | KIL | POC | MCH 4 | FRS | KIL | NSH | DEL | POC | HPT | FRS | ISF | TOL | DSF | TWS | SLM | ATL | 149th | - | [39] | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | DAY 20 | FIF | TWS | TAL | KIL | CMS | FRS | TOL | POC | MCH | FRS | POC | KIL | ISF | DSF | TOL | SLM | WIN | ATL | 131st | - | [40] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | ARTGO Challenge Series Champion 1981, 1982 | Succeeded by |