hearing the #30 AOL RCR Chevy may be driven in 2004 by Johnny Sauter? Not sure how this would effect his Busch ride in the #27 Brewco ride…if it happens.(11-19-2003)[more rumors on the #30 Team News and Links page ] UPDATE: Jason Keller said he has discussed a probable vacancy at Brewco Motorsports with officials of that Busch team. The Brewco opportunity appeared with the apparent decision by driver Johnny Sauter, who had agreed to drive for the two-car team next year, to move to the #30 Nextel Cup cars owned by Richard Childress.( Greenville News )(12-3-2003) UPDATE 2: Johnny Sauter, who left Richard Childress Racing just last month, will return officially today. And with a promotion, no less. Sauter, the youngest driver from the Necedah, Wis., racing family, will be introduced as the driver for Childress’ #30 Chevrolet entry in NASCAR’s top division, the Nextel Cup Series, next season. The announcement will come during a news conference Thursday morning in New York.( Milwaukee Journal Sentinel )(12-4-2003) UPDATE 3: NASCAR team owner Richard Childress announced today Johnny Sauter will drive the #30 AOL Chevrolet for the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season and will compete for the 2004 Rookie of the Year Award. Johnny Sauter has been a big part of RCRs success the last few seasons, said Childress. The move to the Nextel Cup is the next step in his promising career, so I wanted to make sure that step was taken with us. Johnny is the type of driver that fits the RCR mold so I know hell do a great job in the AOL Chevrolet. Driving for RCR and AOL in the Nextel Cup Series is just an unbelievable opportunity for me, really a dream come true, said Sauter. RCR has been my home since Richard took the chance a few years back and put me in that Busch car. There isnt another team I would want to race for in my rookie year. Childress also announced Kevin Hamlin will become Sauters crew chief, moving to the #30 AOL team from the #31 Cingular Wireless team. Hamlin led Robby Gordon to a 16th-place finish in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup point standings, claiming both road course wins. Since joining RCR in 1997, Hamlin has nine Winston Cup victories, claiming wins with every driver with which he has worked. Hamlin will bring his entire 2003 #31 crew in making the move to join Sauter on the 2004 #30 AOL team. “We’re delighted that a promising young driver like Johnny Sauter will be in the seat of the #30 AOL Chevrolet. Pairing Johnny with an experienced crew chief like Kevin Hamlin will allow the AOL team to win races and aggressively compete for the Rookie of the Year Award in 2004,” said Richard Taylor, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing for America Online. “Our partnership with NASCAR is a great fit with our AOL for Broadband high-speed offerings, and we look forward to continuing that partnership with this new team next season.”(RCR PR)(12-4-2003)
