Catchfence

ThorSport Racing has named Walter Giles crew chief for Johnny Sauter’s No. 13 Chevy Silverados for the ’09 season, the organization announced on Tuesday.

Giles brings a powerful combination of engineering knowledge and driving experience to the team. The native of Australia moved to the U.S. a decade ago, after winning more than 200 races and seven championships in various racing series as a driver.

As a former chief race engineer at DEI and crew chief for Robby Gordon, Giles has been around the NASCAR block.

“I’m excited to be at ThorSport, and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Giles said. “All of the pieces for success are in place here, and I hope to help bring the engineering aspect to another level. I’m looking forward to working with Johnny. He’s a heck of a driver, and I think we can have a great season. I look forward to working with Matt Crafton and the No. 88 team, also. There’s a lot of talent in this organization, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”

According to Sauter, Giles’ track record is invaluable. “Walter brings a lot to the table,” he said. “He has a wealth of engineering experience, and has been a successful driver, so he can relate to that part of it. I’m looking forward to working with him and learning from him, and to developing a winning partnership this season.”

ThorSport Racing, Press Release