GMS Racing’s newest driver will have an experienced crew chief next season.
Johnny Sauter said during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series banquet Monday night at The Diplomat in Hollywood, Fla. that Marcus Richmond will calls the shots for the veteran in 2016.
Richmond departed Red Horse Racing and Timothy Peters early last week for an opportunity to work with Sauter and Maurice Gallagher next season. While the move is concerned shocking by some, Sauter is excited to reap the benefits of a strong leader such as Richmond.
“We’ve already got things set in motion (at GMS) as far as people and personnel,” said Sauter. “We’re still got a couple guys that we’re trying to assemble to make it what we want it to be. Obviously, Marcus Richmond is going to come over and be the crew chief and he’s got some key people that he thinks are going to help the program.”
Peters who accepted his award for finishing fifth in the championship standings say that despite the move, he and Richmond remain “best friends.”
“Definitely hate the circumstances for sure, but it was a mutual decision to part ways with Red Horse and Marcus (Richmond),” says Peters. “Definitely he and I are still best friends and wish him well.”
Ironically, it appears that the two teams have swapped crew chiefs. Shane Huffman, formerly a crew chief at GMS Racing has parted ways with the Statesville, North Carolina and joined a Toyota NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Sources tells CATCHFENCE.com that Huffman is expected to be announcing in the coming weeks as Richmond’s replacement for Peters.
Peters would not comment on the crew chief situation Monday night, but did say the Tom DeLoach-owned team would announce something soon, “I’m sure after Thanksgiving, you’ll hear very quickly who’s to come,” he added.
A truck number and a full sponsorship lineup for Sauter at GMS Racing is still pending.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
