Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE) will return to the racetrack for the second time this season, fielding an entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
The championship-winning organization, which fielded a full-time entry in the NASCAR Truck Series from 2017 to 2023, will bring its No. 16 AISIN Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to the 0.686-mile short track for the July 19 event.
Nearly a decade after working together in the Xfinity Series, Hattori Racing Enterprises and 2016 NASCAR Truck Series champion Johnny Sauter will see their paths cross once again, as the 46-year-old gets behind the wheel of the organization’s truck.
“IRP is a unique track, it has a very unique layout with multi-groove racing,” said Johnny Sauter. “I think track position is going to be key and staying up front out of trouble is the goal.”
Hattori has filed an entry for its No. 16 Toyota Tundra in one NASCAR Truck Series event this season, at North Wilkesboro, but failed to qualify for the event after inclement weather canceled qualifying.
This weekend’s event at IRP will mark the third NASCAR Truck Series start of the season for Sauter, who drove the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, finishing 29th and 17th, respectively.
As part of the deal, Sauter will also get to work with former crew chief Richie Wauters, who the Necedah, Wisconsin-native has worked with briefly in the NASCAR Truck Series, and extensively in various divisions of short track racing across the United States.
“Getting back to the Truck Series with Richie [Wauters] has been something I’ve been looking forward to since we first discussed racing at Indianapolis Raceway Park, a couple weeks ago,” Sauter explained. “I want to thank Shige Hattori for the opportunity to drive the No. 16 AISIN Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the TSport 200.”
Shige Hattori, owner of Hattori Racing Enterprises, is looking forward to having Sauter join the organization for the Indianapolis Raceway Park event.
“We’re excited to have Johnny behind the wheel of our #16 AISIN Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at Indianapolis Raceway Park,” said Hattori. “His experience in the series, with many different platforms of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series trucks, will be invaluable. He understands the unique challenges of these vehicles and this bullring-style track. Johnny will also give us a great understanding of where we are at as a team and give us some valuable feedback.”
Appearances for Sauter in the NASCAR Truck Series have been rare in recent years, ever since departing ThorSport Racing following the 2021 season.
In the last three years, Sauter has added 12 starts to a career total that will reach 323 in Friday’s 200-lap contest from Indiana.
Hattori Racing Enterprises will be welcoming a brand-new partner in Toyotetsu to NASCAR. Toyotetsu North America has locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Ontario, Canada, and Guanajuato, Mexico.
The TSport 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park will kick off on Friday, July 19 at 8:30 pm ET. All coverage of the event will take place on FOX Sports 1.
