Johnny Sauter is not returning to GMS Racing in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, the team announced today, Jan. 9.
“We cannot thank Johnny enough for his contributions to the growth and success of GMS Racing,” Mike Beam, GMS president, said in a team statement. “He won the first championship for us and added a lot of trophies to our shop. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors, both in and out of racing.”
Sauter has not yet publicly commented on the move.
The 40-year-old Sauter won the 2016 Truck Series championship with GMS and its No. 21 after moving to the organization from ThorSport Racing. In three full-time seasons with the team, he earned 13 wins, 39 top fives and 55 top 10s, finishing no lower than fourth in points.
A reason for Sauter’s departure from GMS has not been announced, nor has a replacement at the organization been announced, though the team noted that the No. 21’s plans would be revealed soon.
Sauter joins Brett Moffitt as recent Truck Series champions who currently do not have rides announced for 2019. Moffitt, the 2018 champion, will not return to Hattori Racing Enterprises in 2019 and has been replaced by Austin Hill.
Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.
At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
Wow. Just ….wow! Didn’t realize how big these camel back breaking straws are getting. Johnny and Matt Crafton are the only guys that were still able to whip up on those young bucks which was the one of the few reason I watched trucks.Best in life Johnny.
Let me guess, the new driver will be a young guy who brings money to the team, or, is related to someone in the megateams.
Is this Spencer Gallagher’s first major decision?