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Moffitt and Sauter each won a half-dozen races and made the Championship 4 at Homestead, but their roads to those ends and the people surrounding each of them along the way were vastly different.
In fact, GMS’ strength from top to bottom is something that Moffitt says motivated him when the possibility of driving one of their trucks became a reality.
“I think the depth of the organization at GMS is just huge. They have quality equipment across all their race teams — it’s not like they had an ‘A’ program and a ‘B’ program and a ‘C’ program, because every truck they brought to the race track was top of the line — but the people they have behind them and putting time and effort into making their equipment fast is just as impressive,” Moffitt explained. “As a driver, that’s something that you notice. That’s not taking away from any of what my guys did last year, but GMS has everything organized and put together well and there’s absolutely no lack of effort.
“Driving for them this year … that gets me super excited to be with a team that’s bringing the absolute best of the best every week and where we’re not having to stress about just getting to the track.”
Since debuting in the Truck Series in 2013 at Kansas Speedway, GMS Racing has amassed 23 victories in 340 starts, including Sauter’s championship in 2016.
The organization interrupted a three-year run of dominance by Kyle Busch Motorsports in the driver standings, with Sauter taking the title during a year when KBM driver William Byron was viewed as the favorite, and has grown into a perennial contender for wins and championships.
Moffitt feels that not only is GMS in the Truck Series field to stay, but that the team has become one of the cornerstones of NASCAR’s national-series landscape.
“I feel like GMS is a staple, not just in the Truck Series, but in the Xfinity Series as well,” said Moffitt. “Being with Chevy … I haven’t been with Chevy since 2009, when I was running K&N East, so I’m looking forward to working with GM and everyone within the Chevrolet family. I feel like there’s a lot of room for growth within the organization and a lot of room down the road to make a lot of cool things happen.
“I’m hoping everything goes well this season and I’m looking forward to working with (teammates) Sheldon Creed and Stewart Friesen. I believe, as a group, that we can all do a lot to make each other better.”
After a year in which Moffitt thrived from last-gasp successes, feel-good moments and the persistent Cinderella storyline that followed him from week to week, he’s looking forward to being able to get back to the nuts and bolts of driving, rather than searching for dollars.
“I would say that last year was more mentally challenging than it probably needed to be, as far as my part went,” Moffitt admitted. “I’m looking forward to this year and being in a situation where I’m not just viewed as lucky to be in that position. I feel like GMS and the Gallagher family are really going to indulge in this, build a team around me and really support me. With not having to focus on the other stuff away from the race track, I feel like I’ll be able to put my head down, work at winning races and keep my confidence up.
“I don’t need Cinderella moments. I just want to go out there and win.”
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