Justin Haley is the latest driver to be announced to return to the GMS Racing organization this season. Haley piloted the No. 24 entry in all but two races last season being as he'd not become 18 yet. He'll make his debut at the Daytona International Speedway next month and Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, those tracks being those he wasn't eligible to race at last season. Despite missing those two races, Haley still competed for a spot in the playoffs and ultimately finished 12th in his first full-time season. “We found a lot of success toward the end of the 2017 season, so there’s a good amount of momentum that we can carry over into this year,” Haley stated in the team release. “The No. 24 team is working hard in the off-season to take us to that next level, to be able to keep running up front and improving week to week. There’s no reason we shouldn’t be competing for a championship when we get to Miami, and I couldn’t be more excited to be heading in that direction with GMS and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.”
Returning to crew chief the No. 24 entry in 2018 will be Kevin Bellicourt. Bellicourt returns to the truck series for his second straight season with GMS Racing after departing ThorSport after the 2016 season. He's overseen two pole victories (one with Haley at Texas) and has the best finish of second with Ben Rhodes in 2016 at Gateway.
“It’s been really encouraging to see the work that not only this team has done, but that Justin has put in over the off-season,” said Bellicourt. “From working in the gym to time on the simulator, he’s focused on getting himself prepared to make a run for the title. The team has put everything we’ve got behind him and we’ve watched him do the same. It feels like all the pieces are coming together at the right time.”
Haley has 27 career starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His best finish came at Kentucky last season when he finished third. Haley earned his first career pole last season at Texas. He'll join Johnny Sauter and newcomer Dalton Sargeant as the GMS Racing lineup seems complete. The organization only fielded three cars in 2017, Kaz Grala was promoted to the XFINITY Series. Sauter will pilot the No. 21 entry, Haley moves over to the No. 24, and Sargeant will pay homage to Tim Richmond running the No. 25. (Koelle,2017)
Photo Credit - Sean Gardner/Getty Images
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