STATESVILLE, N.C. – On the heels of his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East tenure with DGR-Crosley, Tyler Dippel has signed with GMS Racing for the final four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races of the season.
Dippel will pilot the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado, which was campaigned for much of the season by rookie Dalton Sargeant before being taken over by Timothy Peters prior to the start of the playoffs. Veteran Jerry Baxter will serve as Dippel’s crew chief.
The 18-year-old native of Wallkill, N.Y., will make his debut with GMS at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 27. He’ll then compete in additional races at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 2, Arizona’s ISM Raceway on Nov. 9 and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 16.
Dippel made his Truck Series debut with DGR-Crosley at Eldora Speedway in July, starting and finishing 13th at the half-mile dirt oval. Though he’s transitioning to a new team, Dippel’s enthusiasm for what is ahead is clearly visible.
“I’m beyond excited,” Dippel said of his emotions about joining GMS Racing. “It’s been quite the year. When this year started, I would have never pictured how it would turn out and all the positives that I’ve gotten to take away from this year. First though, I want to say a huge thanks to DGR-Crosley for everything they did for me this year. David (Gilliland), Chris (Lawson) and all the guys worked hard each time out to give us a shot at winning races and I’m really proud of what we accomplished together and wish them all the best for their future plans going forward.
“With that said, to have this opportunity with GMS is something I can’t even put into words. It’s just so exciting for me and I can’t wait to get out on track for them,” continued Dippel. “It’s amazing to say that I’ll be moving up into the NASCAR national series ranks for the rest of the year. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m ready to get started.”
Dippel competed primarily in K&N East this season with DGR-CROSLEY, ranking second in points to newly-crowned champion Tyler Ankrum with one race remaining and sitting 38 points clear of third-place Ronnie Bassett Jr. in the season standings.
He earned one win, two poles, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes during the first 13 races of the year.
With four guaranteed races at GMS in his back pocket, Dippel’s hope is that he can perform at a high enough level to earn a bigger opportunity next year and move into a full-time role with the team.
“That’s the goal,” Dippel noted. “I’d love to go out and win a race for Maury (Gallagher) and all the guys at GMS … that would be the ultimate box to check, but if I can make the most of my opportunity I’ll be happy. GMS is obviously the best team in the Truck Series, and to be able to work with their guys and know I’m going to have good trucks before I even get to the race track is a huge confidence builder.
“I think all of that is going to make my transition from K&N up to trucks a whole lot easier, as well.”
As he comes under the GMS umbrella, Dippel will also be reunited with fellow dirt-modified ace Stewart Friesen, who drives for sister operation Halmar-Friesen Racing in a technical alliance with GMS.
Dippel noted a sense of familiarity in being able to trade barbs and share notes with the veteran he’s slung plenty of dirt with and competed against throughout the Northeast.
“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun working with Stew,” Dippel laughed. “He and I go back a long way. We’ve always been friends off the track, but pretty good rivals on it. That’ll be fun, though, to have someone I know over there. He may not have as much experience in the asphalt world, but he is a great driver and he’ll be a good one to lean on as I learn the ropes in these trucks.”
With the goal of winning a race already on his radar, Dippel has two venues – Martinsville and Phoenix – circled on his calendar as places he feels he can excel, being a short-track driver growing up.
“I think those two races are definitely big for me,” he noted. “I know I’m going to have to go through a learning curve at Texas and Homestead, because I’ve never been on a big track and felt what the air does at those places. It doesn’t mean we won’t still go there and have a shot to run well, but I think the short tracks are where I can shine and hopefully turn some heads.”
Regardless of the final results, at least for now, Dippel is just thankful to have an opportunity to put his name alongside the best of the best on NASCAR’s national stage.
“This is a huge moment for me,” he said. “I feel like I’m starting all over again, because Eldora doesn’t really compare to anything else in the Truck Series, but I think it’s a new beginning that will be good for me.
“I can’t wait for these last four races to get here. I’m ready to get going and very humbled to be in the position I’m in.”
