Johnny Sauter
Episode 123
7 JUNE 2021
A professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 13 Toyota Tundra for ThorSport Racing. He began his racing career in 1996 and by 2001 was the American Speed Association Champion and Rookie of the Year. In 2009 he was NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year. He also builds and races his own late model cars. And, he and his father and two brothers became only the second family in NASCAR history to have four members compete in a national series race.
Notable guest quotes:
“Cortney and myself, we were married in 2007… We have four children… The three oldest ones are in Catholic school… We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I was a cradle Catholic, grew up in a really good Catholic family and did my time in Catholic schools, from kindergarten to twelfth grade.”
“You hear all the jokes about — when you tell somebody how many brothers and sisters you had, they say — oh, you must be Catholic… But I wouldn’t have traded it for anything… (I’m) very, very blessed to have had that.”
“I’ve known Father Grubba for a long time, and it turns out that the parish we belong to, Monsignor was actually a student of Father Grubba’s back, way back in the day… But, he’s a big race fan, Father Grubba, and I had him serve at my wedding… And… I actually raced in… Father Grubba Night a few years back and actually won that race.”
“We tried to say family rosaries and I saw a really good example of the value and the importance of prayer.”
“Things happen in your career, sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t. And there’s really only one place to turn and that’s to prayer. I’m trying to carry that tradition on with my kids today, saying a family rosary.”
“I pray before every race. I pray every day, but, primarily just for safety and to bring me home in one piece.”
“I just give credit where credit’s due. At the end of the day, I’m smart enough to know that I’m not doing this on my own. Not only are there a lot of good people helping me along the way but obviously I know you’ve gotta be in the right trajectory faith-wise to make smart decisions.”
“No matter what you think you’re doing in life… that’s always in the back of your mind, is, trying to get to heaven and doing the right thing.”
“I think people, they know there’s a God and they know they should serve Him, and I think it’s good. I think the sport has embraced that.”
“I’ve had race fans, for sure, come up to me and say, ‘Man, I love what you say after the race, thanking the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother,’ and I’ve heard that several times throughout my career. So, to me, that means that at least you’re reaching somebody and maybe putting that thought in their mind.”
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