Bubba Wallace’s Protege’s Career Under Jeopardy; Jimmie Johnson’s Toyota Partnership Is to Blame

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Jimmie Johnson and Bubba Wallace | Credits – Imago

NASCAR community is abuzz with the latest hot topic, and discussions are in full swing. A prominent truck series team disclosed its plan to fold after the 2023 season concludes. The impending 2024 season will dawn without the presence of the championship-winning GMS garage, relegating it to the annals of history.

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This announcement spells misfortune for a driver under the GMS banner, notably Bubba Wallace‘s protégé. Wallace, a vocal advocate, has mentored 21-year-old Rajah Caruth, guiding him through the challenges of a predominantly white-dominated sport.

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GMS Racing, founded by Maury Gallagher as Gallagher Motorsports in 2012, made its initial foray into the racing world by entering the ARCA Menards Series. Just a single season later, the team made its mark in the trucks division. The year 2016 witnessed a triumphant milestone for the team as they clinched their first championship title and the second one in 2020. Fast forward to the 2023 season, the team proudly fields three full-time drivers steering the iconic Chevy brand.

GMS Racing announces it will cease operations at the end of the season. Not a big surprise with Legacy moving to Toyota and Toyota already having the truck teams it supports.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 23, 2023

While the recent decision to cease operations might not be entirely surprising, delving into the backstory reveals intriguing connections.

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The thread traces back to May of the same year when Legacy Motor Club shook the scene by shifting allegiances from Chevrolet (also the Manufacturer for GMS Racing) to the powerhouse, Toyota. The crux of the link lies in owner Maury Gallagher’s dual role: he’s not only at the helm of GMS Racing but also holds a stake in Legacy Motor Club of the NASCAR Cup Series.

Legacy Motor Club counts NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson among its co-owners, and their manufacturer switch seemed to foreshadow GMS’s similar move. However, Toyota’s stable of seven cars on the grid apparently deterred GMS from an immediate shift.

Although independently managed, GMS and Legacy stem from the same operational hub. Johnson’s manufacturer change, which transpired about four months prior, now manifests as a setback for Gallagher’s truck series team, culminating in the decision to halt operations after this season.

Reflecting on the team’s illustrious journey, Gallagher shared, “Every employee, new and old at GMS has always strived to be the very best. Without their effort and dedication, we would have never been able to win two Truck championships, three ARCA championships, and 68 wins.”

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In a heartfelt tweet, @GMSRacingLLC shared, “Our time spent in @NASCAR has been incredible, and we are thankful for everybody’s support throughout the years. We’ll be giving it everything we’ve got from here on out till Phoenix!”

As the tweet echoed, a wave of comments flooded in, resonating with fans’ sentiments of loss and blame directed at Jimmie Johnson. One fan acknowledged GMS’s illustrious journey, and reflected on GMS Racing’s history, saying, “Since joining the Truck Series in 2013, @GMSRacingLLC has earned 44 wins, 4th-most for any team in history. Will be sad to see one of the best teams in series history leave, like many others here.”

Expressing nostalgia, another commenter mentioned, “Sad. Some of my favorite drivers came up through GMS. Used to be dominant in the Trucks. Then they had talks of moving up to cup and just fell apart.”

Speculation arose about owner Maury Gallagher’s motives, with a commenter speculating, “Sounds like Maury Gallagher going all in on cup.” Others questioned the decision’s link to Legacy Motor Club. A fan asked, “Is this because LMC is going to Toyota next season? Why can y’all move to Toyota too.” Amidst the ire, a commenter blamed Johnson, as evident in a fiery comment that read, “Thanks a f***ing lot @JimmieJohnson!” Criticism of Jimmie Johnson continued: “Classic Jimmie Johnson. Dude should have just stayed out of NASCAR for good. Hope all the drivers and employees can catch on elsewhere.”

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 13: Jimmie Johnson of the United States, driver of the #48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, prepares to drive during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 13, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Conversely, some saw a silver lining, highlighting potential benefits for the Cup team’s growth and sponsor involvement, suggesting, “My thoughts too all team members, but in reality this is great for the Cup team and offers up both an opportunity to expand in that building plus pull some of those sponsors over to Cup.” Criticism also surfaced, accusing Gallagher of being too entwined with Johnson’s Legacy, a fan remarked, “Damn. Maury really needs to remove his head from Jimmie’s rear-end at Legacy.”

Pondering over the situation, another commenter mentioned, “I was wondering why GMS wasn’t fully integrated into Legacy. Guess I know why now”, while the overall sentiment lamented the loss of a consistently competitive team, saying, “It sucks to lose any team but one that’s always in the mix like GMS, it stings a little more.” A blend of sadness and recognition emerged, “Great drivers looking for a ride next season and a great organization closing its doors, sad this had to happen.” Meanwhile, paying tribute to GMS Racing’s achievements, a fan commented, “2x Truck Champs, we will never forget thee!!!!”

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Watch this Story: HMS Legend Destroys Bubba Wallace After Disappointing Michael Jordan At Chicago

With these developments, fans are left with GMS Racing’s promise of delivering an unforgettable showdown until the checkered flag waves at the season finale in Phoenix. As we await the final chapter of their journey, attention turns to Caruth’s next steps in the sport under Wallace’s expert guidance. As GMS Racing closes its doors, it firmly cements its legacy into the illustrious history books, leaving its mark when a new chapter is penned for the 2024 season.

Rashi Shetty

78 articles

Edited By: Ranvijay Singh

Watch this Story: HMS Legend Destroys Bubba Wallace After Disappointing Michael Jordan At Chicago