GMS Racing officially announced on Friday that the organization will not field an entry in the ARCA Menards Series during the 2023 season. Instead, the team will pour its focus into making a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship run.
The announcement, which was made in the form of a statement by the organization’s President Mike Beam, puts an end to an eight-year streak of GMS Racing competing in ARCA.
“In an effort to shift the team’s primary focus and resources towards competing for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, GMS Racing will not field an ARCA Menards Series entry in 2023,” Beam said in a team statement.
“Everyone at GMS Racing is grateful for its time spent over eight seasons competing in the ARCA Menards Series. The series has been near and dear to our hearts, as ARCA was where our roots as a stock car racing team truly began. We have been fortunate for our organization to have had success throughout the years, namely winning the 2015 national championship with Grant Enfinger, as well as the 2019 and 2020 ARCA Menards Series East championships with Sam Mayer.
“In total, our team was able to accomplish 23 wins across the ARCA slate, but above all of that has been the countless memories we have made both on and off the track. The ARCA team of series officials, drivers, and fans have been world-class to work with, and we are thankful for everyone that has helped along the way. To our loyal partners and fans who have supported out efforts within the series, we offer our greatest respect and gratitude, and look forward to what’s ahead for our organization as a whole moving forward.”
GMS Racing, which struggled during the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season after dropping down to two full-time trucks, will expand to three full-time trucks in 2023.
In October, the team announced that Daniel Dye, who finished runner-up in ARCA Menards Series points in 2022, would move to its newly numbered No. 43 truck for the 2023 season.
And in December, Rajah Caruth, the third-place driver in the 2022 ARCA Menards Series point standings, was announced as the driver of the team’s No. 24 entry.
The two youngsters join Grant Enfinger, who returns in the team’s No. 23 entry.
