Sauter to Return to GMS Racing in 2018

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer

The best thing a driver can do on the day in which they fight for a championship is focus on the race. That is all that Johnny Sauter has to focus on in the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as GMS Racing revealed he would return to the No. 21 Chevrolet Silverado in 2018.

Sauter joined GMS Racing in 2016 and led the team to their, as well as his own, first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship. In 45 races with the team, he earned seven victories, 24 top-fives, 37 top-10s, and one pole position. Out of those 45 races, Sauter has been running at the finish in 44 starts, a streak dating back to Atlanta last year.

Sauter was thankful for the opportunity that GMS has given him,

“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.”

This season, Sauter earned four victories, including the last two races at Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, regular season finale at Chicagoland Speedway, and Dover International Speedway. He also has 12 top-fives and 18 top-10s. Sauter somehow has finished every race this season despite being involved in the massive last-lap wrecks at both Daytona and Talladega.

To date, Sauter has 17 Truck Series victories in 220 career starts. He also has 87 top-fives, 139 top-10s, and six pole positions. He also has 205 starts and three victories, in the Xfinity Series and 85 starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

More details including crew chief and sponsors will be announced at a later date. Tonight, Sauter will compete with Austin Cindric, Christopher Bell, and his former teammate Matt Crafton for his second championship.