MIKE GALLEGOS FINISHES 23RD IN NASCAR CAMPING WORLD WEST RACE AT TOYOTA SPEEDWAY

Source: RTD Motorsports Media Relations/sb
Date: 08/21/2008

North Highlands, California – Wheat Ridge, Colo. star Mike Gallegos was forced to settle for a 23rd place finish in Saturday’s Pipe Careers 200 for the NASCAR Camping World Series West at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

Gallegos, driving the RTD Motorsports Chevrolet for Drive for Diversity, qualified ninth amongst the 29 entries at the California half-mile, at 95.668 miles per hour. The effort tied with Colorado as Gallegos’ best this season.

“We had a really good car right away in practice,” Gallegos said. “We had a great car in the race. We passed Jeff Barkshire and we tried to put ourselves in position for the second 100.”

The race, which was split into two 100 lap segments, saw Gallegos charge quickly towards the top-five. Gallegos, who has not tasted a top-ten since the July 4th event at Toyota Speedway, looked eager to get back in the points hunt.

Luck did not favor the RTD Motorsports team, as for the fourth straight race an unexpected problem cost a solid run.

With the half-way break approaching, Gallegos hit fluid in turn four, sending his #34 car for a spin.

Fellow competitors Greg Pursley and Moses Smith attempted to take evasive action but ended up making contact with the spinning Gallegos.

Team owner and crew chief, veteran Rob Dixon, was able to get the car back on the track within just a few laps.

Gallegos soldiered home to a 23rd place finish, nine laps down.

“The top-15 teams are phenomenal and unfortunately we’ve had some bad luck,” Gallegos said.

RTD Motorsports, who recently partnered with Rueda Racing, now sets forth to prepare for the final two races of the Camping World Series schedule.

Gallegos sits 30 points out of tenth entering the closing stages of the calendar. September 13th will see racing at Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif. for the “Golden State Steel & Stair 200.” Roseville’s All American Speedway will host the Toyota / NAPA 150 to wrap up the season on October 25th.

Both races will serve as possible redemption races for Gallegos, after he crashed out at Roseville in March of this year and at last September’s Altamont event.

“I would like to get some top-tens before the season is over,” Gallegos said. “Hopefully we can end the year on a good note and get back in the points.”

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