The Phoenix Raceway weekend is special for three reasons. Interestingly, all three of them mark the end of something. For starters, the 2023 NASCAR season is coming to an end, giving rise to anticipation about the next. Secondly, SHR legend Kevin Harvick is putting down his firesuit forever. And thirdly, GMS Racing is closing its shutters.
Formerly known as Gallagher Motorsports, GMS Racing has been one of the pioneering teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. However, the team is not closing down, leaving its drivers cold turkeys. On that note, Grant Enfinger revealed his 2024 plans and explained how the current season has been eventful for the five-time championship-winning team.
Grant Enfinger spills out his intentions before going to Phoenix Raceway
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Since its inception in 2012, GMS Racing has amassed an array of achievements, including the 2015 ARCA Menards Series title, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships, and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships, through the able hands of the likes of Grant Enfinger, Johnny Sauter, Sheldon Creed, and JR Motorsports sensation Sam Mayer, respectively. But back in August, this team announced that they were closing their operations.
Nevertheless, the driver of the #23 Champion Power Equipment Chevy Silverado for GMS, Enfinger, revealed that he had his plans for 2024 lined up, despite his team closing down. Although he admitted that he was not at liberty to disclose every detail of it, he did mention that he would be racing next year. “Very, very happy about that,” said the 38-year-old Alabama resident. “I’m thankful that everybody on our team has had multiple opportunities, including myself, to have something for next year.”
With @GMSRacingLLC closing after tonight's race at Phoenix, @GrantEnfinger has his plans for 2024 set in stone and is excited.
💭 "We've worked hard for this and I hope that everybody can appreciate this opportunity." 💯@phoenixraceway | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/oac5zwqF14
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) November 3, 2023
According to Enfinger, just the fact that every driver behind the garage of GMS Racing has a gig for next year points to the hard work and dedication that this team has put in all year long. “I think that’s a testament for what these guys have earned and put in this year. There is a lot of things that we need to do between right now and the end of tomorrow night but it’s something to be proud of,” he added proudly.
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With the noise regarding GMS closing down everywhere in the arena of NASCAR, it’s only natural for the team to not be able to focus on their game. However, that wasn’t the case for GMS. Enfinger felt like it wasn’t a big moment but said, “I don’t think our guys are getting distracted. There has been so much noise this year; they’ve stayed laser-focused and our intention is to come out of this tomorrow night holding the big trophy.” But why is GMS Racing closing down despite 9 fruitful years of racing? One might ask. Let’s take a dipper dig at the probable reasons.
Why is GMS Racing closing down in 2024?
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Maury Gallagher originally founded GMS to back his son Spencer Gallagher‘s racing career. However, the younger Gallagher retired in 2018 to become a team manager. But Maury Gallagher’s tie-up with 7X Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson could be one of the reasons. Here’s how:
Johnson and Gallagher are partners in owning the Legacy Motor Club Cup Series team. Prior to the 2024 season, the team announced that they would be shifting manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota. But how could that affect GMS Racing? Toyota already has its Truck Series side of things sorted with Tricon Garage and other operations like Stewart Friesen’s 52 car and Hattori Racing Enterprises. So the question arises: does GMS Racing stand a chance of taking over the Toyota landscape?
Perhaps not. Some might point out that GMS Racing could try its luck again in the Xfinity Series. But even that is easier said than done. The focus has changed for Maury Gallagher over the last few years. He has gone from operating in the lower-tier series to partnering up with Jimmie Johnson to run a Cup Series team. Needless to say, that team is not performing very well right now.
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Read more: Legacy Motor Club Might Be the McLaren of NASCAR
Although John Hunter Nemechek is expected to join the team in 2024 and Erik Jones stays at LMC for his 4th year, with other teams like Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, and most recently, RFK Racing taking big chunks from the pie of success, it’s hard to tell what Legacy Motorclub will become. It’s also a matter of time before the community gets to know what GMS Racing will become.