STATESVILLE N.C. – Zane Smith has joined GMS Racing to contest the Full NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series schedule next year.
Veteran crew chief, Kevin Manion has joined the organization to lead the team for Smith.
In 2018, Smith drove for MDM Motorsports and competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series. Throughout the season, Smith captured four wins, 12 top-fives, 13 top-10’s, one pole award and earned a runner-up finish in the series’ standings. He also made one Truck Series start with DGR-Crosley at World-Wide Technology Raceway, where he finished fifth. Most recently Smith competed for JR Motorsports in 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series events and accumulated two top-five and seven top-10 finishes.
“When I got the offer from Mike Beam asking me to run a truck full-time for GMS Racing, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” said Smith. “GMS is a Championship caliber team and to be a part of an organization like theirs is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with Manion again. He has a lot of experience and I know we will be a great team.”
Manion has called the shots atop the pit box for many notable top-name NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, and many others. He has five NASCAR Cup Series, 15 Xfinity Series and four Truck Series wins on his resume, as well as a Daytona 500 victory and two Xfinity Series titles.
“I am really excited to join GMS Racing and Zane (Smith) for the 2020 season,” said Manion. “With GMS Racing’s championship caliber equipment and Chevrolet support, we have all the resources to win some races and be in the hunt for the 2020 Championship. I got the opportunity to crew chief Zane (Smith) in his first Gander Trucks start in 2018 at Gateway and we worked really well together. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish next season.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Zane (Smith) and Kevin (Manion) into the GMS Racing family for the 2020 season,” said Mike Beam, president of GMS Racing. “With Kevin’s veteran crew chief knowledge and Zane’s skill they will make a great team. I think we have a solid line-up for 2020 and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish.”