Tanner Gray to Run Full Truck Series Schedule in 2020 with DGR-Crosley
NHRA Champion Tanner Gray set to transition to Truck Series full-time in 2020 with DGR-Crosley
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Dec. 16, 2019) – DGR-Crosley announced today that Tanner Gray would make a full-time transition to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series in 2020. Gray will drive the No. 15 Ford F-150 in his national series rookie campaign. In addition, Gray will pick up select ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East (ARCA East) races in 2020.
Gray joined DGR-Crosley’s development program in 2019 as he transitioned to stock car racing after winning the NHRA Pro Stock Championship in 2018. During the 2019 season, Gray competed in multiple series including late models, ARCA East, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. The 20-year-old’s main focus in 2019 was on ARCA East, where he collected one win, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 12 starts. Gray finished the season third in driver point standings. Gray also had a trio of second-place finishes in his three ARCA West starts.
“I’m really looking forward to next year,” said Gray. “Obviously running full-time in the Truck Series is going to be tough with how competitive the series is. It’s going to be challenging racing with these guys week in and week out, but I have a lot of great people around me. The experience in the DGR-Crosley guys will help me adapt and learn quickly. It’s also exciting that Ford is coming on board and giving us assets that will further advance our performance each week.”
In preparation of running a full schedule in 2020, Gray competed in the final three Truck Series races of the 2019 season at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Ariz., and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, where he recorded three top-20 finishes after suffering issues in each race.
“Tanner has done a great job in his transition to stock car racing,” said team co-owner David Gilliland. “I was really impressed with how well he picked up the feel of the car and was able to provide very detailed feedback. It’s a big step up to the Truck Series, but there’s not a doubt in my mind that he’s ready for it. I’m confident that the team we are assembling at DGR-Crosley is going to be one that is a factor every weekend and will compete for wins. I’m really looking forward to it.”
The first race of the 2020 season for Gray will kick off on Friday, February 14, at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
About DGR-Crosley: DGR-Crosley is a race team owned by NASCAR veteran David Gilliland and Crosley Brands CEO, Bo LeMastus. The Ford Performance team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet in Mooresville, N.C. DGR-Crosley specializes in driver development where drivers are coached and given the tools to prepare for NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and Late Model competition. In just two years of operation, the newly formed team has achieved success across each series, collecting multiple wins and Championships.
Sources: Summer Stephens/DGR-Crosley PR