NASCAR: Johnny Sauter staying put at GMS Racing in 2018

Despite falling short of winning his second consecutive NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship, Johnny Sauter will return in 2018 to GMS Racing.

When you have a winning strategy, you don’t want to change it. That’s the case at GMS Racing of late in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where the team saw two of their drivers race into the playoffs. Kaz Grala earned a win as a rookie in the season-opening race, while 2016 series champion Johnny Sauter carried the GMS banner into the Championship 4 once again. Sauter will once again anchor the Chevy squad in 2018 in the #21 truck.

Despite falling just short of claiming his second consecutive championship on Friday night to Christopher Bell, Sauter has turned in consistently strong performances each week for GMS Racing. The team has grown significantly since Sauter joined the organization, seeing a new satellite team in Halmar Racing and bringing in young drivers like Justin Haley and Kaz Grala.

Johnny Sauter had this to say about staying with GMS Racing in 2018:

"I can’t thank the Gallagher family and Mike Beam enough for the opportunity they’ve given me the last two years. To be able to compete at this level, where you know you could win any given weekend, is incredible and I’m excited to be able to continue with the No. 21 team next year."

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While the team has confirmed that Sauter will be returning next year, other drivers remain yet to be announced. The team started 2017 fielding four trucks, eliminating the #23 Chevy after Martinsville despite using it as a one-off ride for Cup and Xfinity drivers. Later in the year, a de facto fourth team would be brought back in with Halmar Racing and Stewart Friesen. While the Gallagher family will likely have little to say about Friesen’s role in 2018, they will control the fate of at least one other driver.

Justin Haley ran all but two races in the #24 Chevy, taking over after Alex Bowman ran at Daytona and Atlanta. Kaz Grala ran the full schedule in the #33 Chevy, but will be moving up to the Xfinity Series with JGL Racing. It will be worth watching to see if GMS Racing will continue to field three or four trucks, as losing another ride or two in the Truck Series would loom large for young drivers looking to move up.

Next: Chase Briscoe Wins, Christopher Bell Clinches at Miami

Are you excited to see Johnny Sauter returning to GMS Racing in 2018? Who will join him at the Chevy-powered team?

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