Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing
Sauter disputes reason for removal
Phoenix Racing General Manager Marc Reno said over the weekend at Nashville Supeerspeedway that the removal of Johnny Sauter as driver of the team's No. 1 Chevrolets was sponsor-driven. The team is sponsored by a resort owned by the Miccosukee Indian tribe, and Reno said, "It was a sponsor request to take Johnny out of the car. This is the first time that they've ever disapproved one of our drivers," Reno said. "That's why we took Johnny out." Sauter joined the team for 2008 and posted a best finish of 13th in the first five races. "I'm not president of the Johnny Sauter fan club, but I didn't have any problem working with him," Reno said. [Team owner] James [Finch] really likes him. It was hard. But it was either the sponsorship or him, and it doesn't take long to figure that math out." Sauter, in a statement, disputed Reno's account of why he was let go.
More FanHouse Blogs
- Rick Hendrick Misses Season Finale
- Jimmie Johnson Wins 4th Straight Title
- Eric Wood Injury Too Brutal for TV Replay
- FCS Playoff Schedule
- BCS Rankings Week 13
- Amir Sadollah Bloodies Phil Baroni
- Mark Martin Remains Sentimental Favorite
- UFC 106 Results
- Nate Robinson Shoots at Wrong Basket
- Broadcasters Suspended for Haddadi Comments
Stub Hub
The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!
Truth & Rumors
MOST POPULAR
-
1
Parcells to Browns?
- Views
- 66117
- Comments
- 379
-
2
Chivas USA to hire Sampson
- Views
- 1092
- Comments
- 162
-
3
FSU to offer Bowden compromise?
- Views
- 8571
- Comments
- 134
-
4
Will Weis agree to Irish exit today?
- Views
- 12263
- Comments
- 120
-
5
Yankees, Red Sox to fight for Lackey?
- Views
- 6432
- Comments
- 110
Most Active Users
Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns
Message Boards
-
NFL > Chicago Bears
Week 11...The Philadelphia…
- Views
- 240
- Replies
- 94
-
NFL > General NFL
Tranny stripper missing from…
- Views
- 102
- Replies
- 15
-
NCAAF > Ohio State Buckeyes
Season Analysis
- Views
- 82
- Replies
- 16


Jarah Mariano
Tatiana Golovin



Comments (13) Add A Comment
Time for me to buy lottery tickets: When this was first placed on FN, I supposed that the reason for his dismissal was "sponsor-orchestrated", because of his acerbic personality. Score one for johnjohn!
johnnyrunner
Beverly Hills , CA
Total Comments (109)
So tell me what Sauter said to dispute his removal from the team, as the headline reads.
Bill's Sabre
Victor, NY
Total Comments (86)
What the hell could be so abrasive? Bunch of grown men acting like 7th grade girls.
jackman....!
Draft A Qb, NC
Total Comments (8480)
Hey, I prefaced my previous post, with the dissclaimer that I had no-insight, no inside-knowledge and that I was probably pullin' it from my behind. He comes across as a Tony Stewart wanna be, with all his attitude and quite frankly, as I said before: He ain't good enough.
One thing though, that we will probably never hear, is if it was a derogatory comment directed towards his sponsor. A less than PC comment perhaps. To be not placed on probation or anything, just dropped, it has to be a major faux pas. ( french at the Nascar site..who would have thunk it)
johnnyrunner
Beverly Hills , CA
Total Comments (109)
Well if he didn't perform then the sponsor has a right to do so. Johnny knows he really is not that good of a driver.
nascarzorin
Hollywood , FL
Total Comments (2344)
Isn't Jacques Villeneuve available?
Rickapolis
Annapolis , MD
Total Comments (6350)
That's exactly what they need to do Rick, is get these open wheel guys some more seat time.
nascarzorin
Hollywood , FL
Total Comments (2344)
He must of offended the Indians somehow using terms like scalp and fire water.
jackman....!
Draft A Qb, NC
Total Comments (8480)
He made a comment about the sponsors' wife looking like a tatanka.
Pathetic
Calipari Out At, KY
Total Comments (695)
Nah ..rick the bard, read my entire french vocab, and the way mine oftens works, I'm guessing he started to segue (sp) (seg-way) to a thought about Frenchmen in Nascar. Kinda like lookin' at ink-blots...we would probably come-up with similiar answers. Ink-blot..Ink-blot...Ink-blot....they are all look like ink that has been sandwiched between a folded freakin' paper, enough already!!
Time to take my meds...
johnnyrunner
Beverly Hills , CA
Total Comments (109)
Need to click on the sight and read the whole thing. Here it is for the hmmm trying to be nice so will say nothing lol
Sauter, in a statement, disputed Reno's account of why he was let go.
"I guess they found out that I don't like to gamble," Sauter said jokingly. "No seriously, I guess the Miccosukees are under the impression that the driver has the power to turn the organization around, and I respect that opinion. But to be perfectly honest, J.J. Yeley, Mike Wallace and Johnny Benson are all great drivers who struggled in Phoenix Racing equipment and were replaced. How many drivers do you have to fire before you realize that they're not the problem?
"As far as sponsors are concerned, Yellow Transportation is an international brand that put its support behind me for three years, and I take pride in the fact that they thought enough of me as a representative to follow me to Haas when I left Phoenix Racing in 2006."
Former Cup driver Sterling Marlin drove the No. 1 at Nashville, but Reno said that is likely only a temporary arrangement. Marlin doesn???t want to do more than 10 to 12 races, and a search for another driver is under way.
Whether Marlin splits time with another driver is unknown, Reno said.
???Sterling???s just in the car this week, and he???s going to go test with us at Richmond,??? Reno said. ???But we???re interviewing other drivers.
We???ve got to run it by the sponsor. I don???t know where we???re at on that. We???ve got three or four people.???
???I think we???ve been running better the last couple of weeks, but this is the first week we???ve had everybody going in one direction. I might be good to leave him in there for a few weeks and get the team a little bit more up to par.???
Reno said there were ???surprisingly good??? drivers the team could sign.
kodiak
Total Comments (1394)
Thanks for the story kodiak. I like Sauter. Regardless of what the story does or does not say....its only been 6 races. This is drastic and disappointing.
jackman....!
Draft A Qb, NC
Total Comments (8480)
I don't necessarily like him, but it's only been 6 races and he's right about the fact that Yeley, Benson, and Mike Wallace have all struggled in this team's equipment. I don't see any reason to have given Sauter the boot. He did get a 5th at Richmond last fall which is no easy task.
SithLord196
Reading , PA
Total Comments (1096)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.