Johnny Sauter has been suspended by NASCAR for the upcoming Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at Gateway.
Sauter intentionally wrecked Austin Hill under caution in Sunday’s M&M’s 200 at Iowa Speedway following on track contact between the two.
“We look at the history of everything we’ve done and react with the precedents we have set while tailoring it with the situation we have at hand,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, in a statement. “In this case, Johnny Sauter’s actions certainly warranted being sat down for an event, but it felt a little too harsh to take him straight out of the championship. We think that we landed on what is fair and a deterrent.”
While NASCAR has not penalized Hill, Miller said the situation would be monitored further.
“We’re not completely done with him,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t think that there is a penalty forthcoming for this. He’s definitely placed himself under a microscope when it comes to behavior out there on the race track.”
ThorSpot is still deciding whether or not to appeal the penalty. No decision has been made to who would drive the No. 13 truck in Sauter’s absence.
