Johnny Sauter got in the face of Ron Hornaday after the Truck Series’ Kroger 250, but with two NASCAR officials nearby, it didn’t escalate into anything more Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway.

Sauter was angry because Hornaday had turned him with 27 laps remaining. After the race, Sauter did not return to his pit stall as required, but instead parked his truck right next to Hornaday’s. He then got out, pushed one of his ThorSport Racing crewman out of the way to get to Hornaday. He got in Hornaday’s face and yelled at Hornaday for about one minute.

Both crew chiefs were at the scene to watch their drivers, and after the shouting match, Sauter walked back to his pit stall.

“It’s what we needed for the points, but that’s not the way we wanted to end up,” said Hornaday, who finished second to race winner Kevin Harvick. “Getting into Johnny right there and spinning around – I don’t know if he hit the curb or checked up or whatever, but I got into him pretty good.

“He forgot about what happened [earler in the race] when he got into me and pushed me back by and everybody beat me and I ate it. … Johnny is all mad, and that’s what truck racing is all about.”

After the confrontation, Sauter would not comment on why he was mad at the Kevin Harvick Inc. driver.

Randy Moss Motorsports’ Mike Skinner, who was collected in the aftermath of the incident, said Sauter was justified with being angry at the defending Truck Series champion.

“We had fresher tires than those guys did and I had Ron passed and he tried to cut our right front tire down and tried to wreck us for three or four laps and then ran up there and wrecked [Sauter] and then [Sauter] came around and took us out,” Skinner said. “It wasn’t [Sauter’s] fault. He was holding us both up, but I think with a handful of laps, that’s what you’re supposed to do.

“If you can’t pass them without wrecking them, you shouldn’t pass them.”

Hornaday said he wouldn’t talk with Sauter.

“There’s no talking to Johnny,” Hornaday said.

SceneDaily