UPDATE: Confirming more than a month of speculation, ASA standout and former Elko Late Model driver Johnny Sauter said Thursday he will join Richard Childress Racing to drive in the NASCAR Busch series next season. The plan, Sauter said, is for him to drive 15 to 18 Busch races next year in the No. 2 ACDelco car, splitting the duties with Kevin Harvick, who also drives RCR’s No. 29 Winston Cup car. Sauter will drive at BGN races that are not running in conjunction with Winston Cup events. RCR has not made an official announcement, and calls Thursday to RCR’s North Carolina office were not returned(Star Tribune – Minn)(8-11-2001)
UPDATE 2: FSN’s Totally NASCAR reported Wedneday that Johnny Sauter had signed with RCR and will drive the #2 car in 2002, sharing duties with #29 Cup driver Kevin Harvick (and current driver of the #2 car) and that Jay Sauter, current driving the #43 BGN car, will drive the #21 RCR car in 2002 with Jeff Green (who is driving the #10 BGN car and will drive the #30 AOL RCR car in 2002) sharing the duties in the #21 with Jay. OK, I think I got that straight(8-15-2001)
UPDATE 3: Although Jay Sauter will be driving a limited schedule for Richard Childress Racing next year, he might not be leaving Curb-Agjanian Motorsports entirely. Co-owner Cary Agajanian wants to put together a deal that would allow Sauter to enter the races for his team that he doesn’t for RCR. If that happens, it would continue a relationship between Sauter and the team that began last year. The California-based attorney also expects to continue running a full-time effort, in conjunction with Sauter’s proposed program. He and co-owner Mike Curb haven’t yet decided on another driver. The #43 team is working with Quality Farm Stores to continue its primary sponsorship in 2002. (Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read)(8-23-2001)