Category: Truck Series News

STATESVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 23, 2020) – GMS Racing officials announced today that Sheldon Creed and Tyler Ankrum will return to GMS Racing to compete full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series in 2021.

Creed is currently in his second full-time season with GMS Racing. Creed currently has three wins, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 20 starts this season. The Alpine, CA native has led 364 laps and has completed 99.1 percent of the total laps run in 2020.

“I’m excited to be coming back for another year with GMS,” said Creed. “I feel like we’ve made a ton of improvements in so many ways this year compared to my rookie year. I’m thankful to Chevy and everybody at GMS for the opportunity to come back next season to show what we’re really capable of and continue to improve and compete for wins and a championship.”

Ankrum, the 2019 Gander Trucks Sunoco Rookie of the Year, is currently in his first full-time season with GMS. The sophomore driver has three top-five and nine top-10 finishes with 54 laps led in 2020.

“I’m thankful for another full-time year in the trucks with GMS next season,” said Ankrum. “This has been a learning year for our team, but I know we’ve got what it takes to go out and compete for wins. This is my first full-time season in trucks and to have the security and support from Maury (Gallagher) and Mike (Beam) to be back for another year is awesome. We still have a lot to prove and we’re in the perfect spot to do that for the rest of the season and next year as well.”

“GMS is excited to have these talented drivers back for 2021,” said Mike Beam, president of GMS Racing. “We’ve been blessed with a great deal of success this season and these young men have represented our organization well on and off the track. I have no doubt their determination and success will continue to grow in 2021.”

About GMS Racing – GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with drivers Brett Moffitt, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith as well as part-time with David Gravel and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Sam Mayer. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 Gander Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 ARCA East championship and has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https:/gmsracing.net

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 17, 2020 – Hailie Deegan, driver of the No. 4 Ford for DGR-Crosley in the ARCA Menard’s Series, will transition to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2021, thus taking the next step in her Ford Performance Development Driver career.

“We are very happy with Hailie’s progress as demonstrated in her first year as a part of our Ford Performance driver development program” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Continuing with the consistency from DGR-Crosley, Hailie is ready to make the step to the NASCAR Truck Series providing some intense competition and great racing.”

“I’ve enjoyed watching Hailie progress in the ARCA Menards Series this season and prepare for the next step in her racing career, moving up to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2021,” said David Gilliland, co-owner, DGR-Crosley. “I’m happy DGR-Crosley can be part of her learning process as she transitions to the next level of competition and we’re all excited to start prepping for next season with her.”

Deegan joined the Ford Performance family in December 2019 with a broad scope of racing activities planned. Unfortunately, some of that plan changed due to the nature of 2020, but she has already delivered upon numerous challenges despite the altered seat time.

Deegan, the 2020 ARCA Menards Series Bounty Rookie of the Year, finished third in the ARCA championship standings. Deegan made her Ford debut with a runner-up finish at Daytona in February on her way to 17 top-10 and four top-five finishes in 20 races.

“I am excited for this next step in my career with Ford Performance,” said Deegan. “I have raced trucks in the off-road world but to now have the opportunity to race trucks next season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a dream come true. I have some great partners already behind me for next season. We have a few primaries still available and I hope that we can fill these up in the coming weeks. I can’t wait for Daytona 2021 to get here.”

Deegan also competed in the opening event of the IMSA sports car racing season, sharing the seat of a Mustang GT4 with fellow Ford Performance development driver Chase Briscoe for a flurry of first experiences over the four-hour race. Hailie also got to experience the power of Ford’s all-electric Mach-E 1400 prototype demonstrator firsthand when she helped publicly unveil the vehicle in July alongside Joey Logano, Ken Block, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Chelsea DeNofa.

Deegan will kick off her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie campaign at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2021.

Statesville N.C. (Oct. 12, 2020) – GMS Racing announced today that Zane Smith will return to pilot a Chevrolet Silverado for the team full-time in 2021.

“We at GMS are proud of what Zane has been able to accomplish in his rookie season,” said team owner Maury Gallagher. “Zane is an incredible talent with a drive to be the best on and off the track. We look forward to seeing what all he can accomplish in the 2021 season.”

Smith is in his first full-time Gander Trucks season and is currently leading the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. Smith currently has two wins, four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes with 271 laps led in 19 starts this season. Smith qualified for the playoffs in his rookie season and has advanced to the Round of 8. He is currently third in playoff standings, six points behind the leader.

“I’m just thankful to Maury (Gallagher), Mike Beam, Chevrolet and all of GMS Racing. It was one thing to be full-time for such a good race team like GMS, but to get to do it again is a whole other thing,” said Smith. “It takes a lot of pressure off myself going into this final round of the playoffs knowing have a job next year. Now there is a good kind of pressure and that’s winning the championship in my rookie year. I can’t wait to be back full-time next season with the knowledge and experience I have now.”

“GMS Racing is excited for Zane to return for the 2021 season,” said Mike Beam, president of GMS Racing. “Zane has done a great job representing GMS and Chevrolet on and off the track and has worked tirelessly to become a contender every race. What he has shown this season is truly amazing and we look forward to watching Zane compete for race wins and championships at GMS Racing.”

Crew chief and sponsorship for Smith’s 2021 season will be announced at a later date.

About GMS Racing – GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with drivers Brett Moffitt, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith as well as part-time with David Gravel and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Sam Mayer. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 Gander Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 ARCA East championship and has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https:/gmsracing.net

STATESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2020) – On the heels of an impressive run in his first start at Bristol Motor Speedway, Carson Hocevar and Niece Motorsports announced today that Hocevar will compete fulltime for Niece Motorsports in 2021 in the Truck Series.

“I’m so excited to get the opportunity to race fulltime next year with the Niece Motorsports group,” said Hocevar. “We’ve had some really strong runs in the few starts that we’ve had this season and I am grateful for the chance to continue that next year. I’ve learned so much already this year and know that we will keep improving next year too.”

To date, Hocevar has made five starts this season with the team. The young driver has shown an impressive ability to maneuver some of the toughest short tracks on the circuit, with his best finish of 12th coming at Dover International Speedway.

“Carson has really impressed us this season,” said team owner Al Niece. “He’s proven his talent – getting into the truck with no track time and really holding his own. We’re thrilled to have him with us fulltime next season and look forward to contending for wins together.”

Hocevar has also driven his family-owned No. 14 GM Parts Now, Precision Fleet Image super late model to five victories in keystone events across the country in 2020.

In addition to races at Bristol and Darlington, Hocevar has also raced at the Daytona Road Course, Gateway Motorsports Park and Richmond International Raceway this season for Niece Motorsports.

“As an organization, we’ve been really impressed with Carson’s ability to race at these tracks that he hasn’t seen before, with no track time before the race,” said general manager Cody Efaw. “He’s a great racer and continues to learn and improve every time he gets behind the wheel. We have no doubt that Carson will be in contention for wins next year.”

Hocevar will return behind the wheel this season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series event at Martinsville Speedway. The NGROTS will take the green flag on Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. ET and will air live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel / lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

A Todd Bodine Throwback Truck Will Mark Freedom Warranty’s First Primary Race

Concord, NC (September 1, 2020) – Spencer Boyd announced today that he will run a Todd Bodine throwback truck at Darlington with longtime partner, Freedom Warranty. Freedom Warranty provides extended service protection for personal vehicles and made their first appearance on Boyd’s No. 20 Silverado at Spencer’s first career win at Talladega in 2019.

“This news comes at an important time in our sport,” commented Boyd. “2020 has been a year that has tested each and every one of us in one way or another. Freedom’s extension proves that sponsorship in NASCAR works.”

Freedom Warranty is the fastest-growing vehicle service contract administrator in the nation, offering a variety of products sold exclusively through authorized auto dealers, certified repair facilities, established lenders, and accredited insurance agencies in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Their goal is to provide a valuable service to automobile owners who want to protect their investment and shield them from unexpected repairs. By providing superior service to contract holders, they strive to provide dependable coverage with customer care that goes above and beyond.

Chris Miller, CEO of Freedom Warranty, remarked on the partnership, “The relationship has been amazing. We’ve signed up multiple dealers as a result of the affiliation with Spencer and Young’s Motorsports. They represent our brand so well and are always putting great social content out. We continue to grow as a business and wanted to grow our involvement with the NASCAR program. It’s truly a win-win!”

With the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series running a modified schedule this year, it allowed for the throwback race at Darlington to be added. Spencer Boyd made it clear who he wanted to honor in this race, “It had to be Todd,” he said. “Todd Bodine has been such a great supporter of me in my racing career. From coaching me at my first start at Charlotte, to feedback after so many races, his experience and friendship has helped so much. I mean he’s got the best view as a Fox Sports Analyst so I’ve got to listen to him right?”

The truck series returns to Darlington Raceway for the first time since 2011. The special Freedom Warranty paint scheme Boyd will run matches the truck that Bodine won within 2010 at Darlington.

The South Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Darlington Raceway will be a double header with the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, September 6. Television coverage starts at 2:00pm ET on Fox Sports 1 and can be heard on the Motor Racing Network or Sirius XM Radio Channel 90.

Visit Freedom Warranty at https://www.freedomwarranty.com

STATESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2020) – NASCAR Cup Series veteran Trevor Bayne makes his return to NASCAR racing this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Sunday’s NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series event at Darlington Raceway marks Bayne’s first start in the Series.

Bayne will pilot the No. 40 Plan B Sales/Proceller8 Chevrolet Silverado at the 1.366-mile track on Sunday afternoon.

“After almost two years of being out of the seat, I’m so excited and grateful for another chance to go racing,” said Bayne. “The call from Niece Motorsports to get back behind the wheel at Darlington was unexpected and came together really fast. They have a great group and a lot of potential with their program. I’m looking forward to working with everyone there and going back racing this weekend!”

Bayne has three Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, dating back to 2015. In addition, the Daytona 500 Champion has three NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the track nicknamed ‘The Lady in Black’, with his best finish of ninth coming in 2014.

“I’ve known Trevor for years,” said General Manager Cody Efaw. “He’s extremely talented and a class act. We are excited to have him behind the wheel at Darlington.”

Bayne will race with support from Plan B Sales and Proceller8.

Plan B Sales was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing service to dealers that carry licensed motorsports product. Plan B Sales started as a Lionel diecast and Chase Authentics apparel distributor. Over the last few years Plan B Sales has grown to be the largest account for Lionel servicing the motorsports market and has expanded product offerings.

Plan B Sales has quickly become the choice of dealers for a stocking one-stop distributor. Its product offering also includes Auto World, Greenlight Collectibles, BrandArt and are the exclusive distributor for University of Racing product lines.

In a crowded market of nutritional supplements, the Proceller8 product line stands out, with a high standard for product quality and non-stop mission to bring the best to customers.

The NGROTS will take the green flag for the first race of the playoffs at Darlington Raceway on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. The 147-lap race will air live on FoxSports1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:

Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2020, Niece Motorsports enters its fifth season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel / lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.