By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Jesse Little ran just his second Camping World Truck Series start Friday at Dover International Speedway. And, boy he made it count.
Running his family-owned No. 97 Ford for the JEGS 200, Little started from fifth, his second straight top-five Dover start. And following 210 laps of racing, Little ended ninth.
But the day wasn’t so cut-and-dry.
Little drove up to the second spot around the halfway point, catching and passing Johnny Sauter for the top spot on lap 122. His two laps out front were his first of his 15-race Truck career. Goal No. 1 accomplished.
“I was behind probably the greatest ever to do it in a truck, Johnny Sauter,” Little told Kickin’ The Tires. “I learned a lot from him, got to pass him splitting a lapped truck. It doesn’t get much better than that. Then, of course, he drove right back around me three laps later.
“I appreciate everyone respecting us out there. They know we’re competitive.”
That assumption was earned Friday, as Little not only led laps and ran top five consistently, but they did so after months away from the sport, last racing in February at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The thing that cost them a top five? A pit road penalty with 42 laps to go. The 21-year-old pitted outside the box which granted him a one-lap penalty from NASCAR.
“I’m extremely disappointed in myself,” he said. “Making that mistake and having to go a lap down. It shows how resilient we are, relentless, with 30 laps to go we make up an entire lap.”
Indeed, though missing out on a potential win, Little leaves the Monster Mile thrilled at the performance of his part-time team.
“We had everything on the money, man,” he said. “It was fast from the first lap of qualifying. Who knows what we would’ve been able to do. Overall, I’m extremely proud of everyone who has ever helped me in my career. They’re all responsible for getting us here.”
Little and team’s next race will be Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 18.
“This is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he said. “As many opportunities I can get to show these guys I belong here, I want them. Today was one of them, I think.”