BUSCH: Dover: Tim Sauter preview

Sauter won't lose to Pinsonneault this time in Dover.

DOVER, DE (June 1, 2002) - Tim Sauter is relieved that Alec Pinsonneault will not be racing in this weekend's NASCAR Busch Series race at Dover International Speedway.

"Back in 1999, Alec Pinsonneault owned my American Speed Association team and was also my teammate that year," said Sauter, who pilots Pinsonneault's No. 19 AP Performance Racing Chevy's in NBS competition this season. "Alec finished sixth at Dover that day, his career best. Meanwhile, I blew a motor on the parade lap right after we got the one-to-go signal. It was my only DNF (did not finish) en route to the ASA championship. I had to pull back behind the wall and watch Alec race. It was a fluke deal. I'm thinking I should be fine this weekend since as long as Alec doesn't field a Busch car for himself." Pinsonneault is no longer a threat to Sauter on the racetrack, but instead an asset to him as a team owner. Pinsonneault, a Canadian businessman, brought his 1999 and 2001 ASA championship winning AP Performance Racing team to the NASCAR Busch Series ranks for 2002. Reunited with Sauter, the team has driven to 12th in the NBS standings heading into the Dover NBS event. Sauter is optimistic the new team will help him improve on a disappointing finish in last year's Dover Busch Series classic.

"I had a tough day at Dover last year," explained the Necedah, WI native. "It was my first Busch Series race there and my ignition box failed, so I slowed pretty abruptly and I got spun. I hit the outside wall and then the inside wall before it was all over. That made for a long day."

Despite his previous hard luck at Dover, Sauter knows the experience he gained learning how to get around the 'Monster Mile' will be a plus this time. He will also have the benefit of having crew chief Bobby Bakeeff on his side this time around. Bakeeff sparked notable improvement with the AP Performance Team since coming on board six weeks ago leading Sauter to five Top-15 finishes and three Top 10s in six races.

"Dover is like an overgrown Bristol," said Sauter, making a comparison to the .533-mile Tennessee oval. "It's a one groove track initially, but as the day goes on, a second grove is worn into it. We are taking car No.3 to Dover. It is the same one we took to California this year (Sauter finished seventh, his top career NBS finish). I can't wait to get behind the wheel of that car again. Bobby knows these cars and that's the one he wants to take. We will definitely be a team to watch."

Sauter and his No. 19 AP Performance Chevrolet Monte Carlo will take the green flag in the MBNA Platinum 200 at Dover International Speedway Saturday June 1, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event will telecast live on FX Television and broadcast worldwide on MRN Radio.

For more information on Tim Sauter and the AP Performance Racing team visit www.timsauter.com.

ABOUT AP PERFORMANCE RACING:
AP Performance Racing debuted in 1992 as an American Speed Association entry with team owner Alec Pinsonneault as the driver. The Windsor, Ontario based team notched 16 ASA victories and a pair of division titles with Tim Sauter (1999) and Johnny Sauter (2001) delivering the championship trophies. Now housed in a state of the art facility in Mooresville, NC, AP Performance Racing will field a full-time NASCAR Busch Series effort in 2002 with Tim Sauter again handling the driving chores. AP Performance Racing is a division of AP Development. Also in the family of AP companies are Build A Mold, A.P. Tool and Gauge, Moldplas, Inc, Trimplas, LTD, Trimplas 2 and Trimplas 2000.

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