March 11, 2020 | By Lee Spencer

NASCAR Truck Notebook: Sauter lands Sakar International sponsorship

Sakar International will support Johnny Sauter’s racing efforts for the remainder of the 2020 Gander Outdoors Truck Series season.

Sakar, in addition to its Vivitar and Altec Lansing brands, will serve as the primary sponsors on the No. 13 ThorSport Ford F-150 for the 2016 Truck series champion.

Sauter, who is currently second in the truck standings after top-10 finishes in the first two races, will debut his new livery this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"We here at Sakar are excited to enter this new partnership with Johnny Sauter and ThorSport Racing,” said Milton Peters, Sakar Vice President of Merchandising. “With Johnny being one of the top NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series drivers, ThorSport's 25 years of proven success and with the wide exposure and deep roots of NASCAR, we look forward to many victories on and off the racetrack.”

Established in 1977, Sakar is a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics and accessories. The Edison, N.J., based company covers audio, digital imaging, health & wellness, mobile devices, optics and a variety of toys.

"I'm proud to represent the Sakar International brands on and off the track,” Sauter said. “They make exceptional products that I know our fans will love.

“It's pretty exciting to have a new partner enter the sport and I look forward to a great year ahead.”

Sauter has 24 truck wins, eight poles, 107 top fives and 170 top 10s in 268 starts. He has five top-10 finishes in nine starts at Atlanta—including three top-five results in his last three starts. The 41-year-old racer’s career-best finish of second came at the 1.5-mile track last year.

JONES REUNITES WITH KBM

Kyle Busch Motorsports has recruited Brandon Jones to drive the No. 51 Tundra for four Gander Outdoors Truck Series events this season.

Jones will revive his role behind the wheel of the No. 51 Barracuda Pumps Toyota starting with Iowa Speedway on June 12. The 23-year-old Atlantan continues at Pocono Raceway with DuPont Air Filtration on June 27 followed by Kentucky Speedway with the Delta Faucet livery on July 9 and conclude at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 30 with Magick Woods as the primary sponsor. Menard’s will be the associate sponsor on the truck for all four races.

Jones has competed in 10 races under the KBM banner. After 45 truck starts, Jones is still searching for his first NGOTS win.

“After ending last year in the Truck Series on such a high note with almost winning Phoenix, it gives me great confidence to come back and compete at KBM,” Jones said. “Based on the tracks that we have scheduled; I feel that my chances are very strong to put the No. 51 Tundra in victory lane at all of them and check off my first truck win in the 2020 season.

“I am pumped to have Danny Stockman as my crew chief since we have worked together in the past and have had multiple successful runs in my early years in the XFINITY series. And, I feel that running a limited truck schedule with KBM helps have dialogue with Kyle on a weekly basis.”

At Phoenix Raceway, Jones scored his second career Xfinity Series win. He’s hopeful the additional track time in the truck will accelerate his learning curve in NASCAR. Jones is currently fourth in the NXS standings.

Busch believes Jones can earn his first win with KBM.

“Brandon was an integral part of the 51 team bringing home the owner’s championship last year and we’re excited to have him back in the driver lineup as we try to repeat that feat this year,” said team owner/driver Kyle Busch. “He was so close to victory a couple of times last year in the Truck Series and in the Xfinity Series was able to pick up a win late last year and has carried that momentum over to another win and a strong start to the season.

“We’re looking forward to getting him his first Truck Series victory this year.”