Welcome Back to #NASCAR Spencer Gallagher

Regardless of his #Win, Gallagher Is Ineligible For The 2018 Xfinity Series Playoffs

Spencer Gallagher’s racing career began at age twelve in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. He began his career racing in a myriad of different classes at his home track, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In 2011, Gallagher began climbing NASCAR’s ladder system, making his first career NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at Phoenix International Raceway, and earned his first top-10 finish on the road course at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. Gallagher made two starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Series the same season before competing in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series.

After time in the ARCA Racing Series seasons in 2012 and 2013, and his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Kansas Speedway also in 2013; Gallagher made a big career move in 2015 by stepping up to contest the full NCWTS season and compete for Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2016, The Las Vegas native competed in another full-time NCWTS season where he collected three top-fives, 15 top-10’s and two pole awards. Gallagher also made the move to the NASCAR Xfinity Series part-time; competing in seven NXS races, with a best finish of eighth-place at Daytona International Speedway.

What a day for @GMSRacingLLC. What a freaking day!!!!! We did it guys! 😂 still have no idea how I did that but what a hot rod. Best damn team in the garage ❤️ See you guys on the boulevard tonight 👀 #RUNGMS #WEDIDIT pic.twitter.com/V8yZbC2h3S

— Spencer Gallagher (@23SpeedRacer) April 29, 2018

However, Gallagher’s biggest NASCAR moment was followed closely by a disappointing low.

On April 28, 2018, Spencer Gallagher picked up his first NASCAR National Series win by crossing the finish line first in the Xfinity Series ‘Sparks Energy 300’ at the Talladega Superspeedway. Three days later, he was indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy.

Gallagher agreed to participate in the ‘Road to Recovery’ Program, a requirement before he is eligible to be cleared to race again. Now, two months later, Spencer Gallagher was reinstated by NASCAR.

GMS Racing announced Gallagher will return to the No. 23 Chevrolet next weekend at Kentucky Speedway.

“The whole GMS organization is very proud of Spencer (Gallagher) for getting reinstated after completing NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program after the results we received post-Talladega,” GMS Racing president Mike Beam said in a release. “Spencer will return to the No. 23 at Kentucky Speedway and then again after our agreed contracts are fulfilled.”

Despite his victory, Gallagher is ineligible for the Xfinity Series playoffs because he hasn’t attempted to start every race this season.

Time for the next chapter boys and girls. Been a tough road, but it’s through adversity that you learn true strength. Can’t thank the entire garage, the fans and everyone at @GMSRacingLLC enough for their support through this. See you guys at Kentucky ❤️💪🏻 #nowbacktoit

— Spencer Gallagher (@23SpeedRacer) July 4, 2018

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Tune in tonight on @SiriusXMNASCAR #DialedIn with @ClaireBLang at 7pm EST to hear @23SpeedRacer talk about his return to #NASCAR! pic.twitter.com/GiL9w1ycup

— GMS Racing (@GMSRacingLLC) July 4, 2018

Gallagher Hoping for Hometown Crown At DC Solar 350

The #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams have made their annual trek to Las Vegas and they are getting ready to go racing. This is a one-day show with qualifying to take place at 3:00 pm with the green flag for the ‘DC Solar 350’ scheduled to drop at 5:30 pm.

Spencer Gallagher is hoping that home is where the win is on Saturday night.

The Las Vegas native will be one of 32 drivers gunning for the checkered flag in the DC Solar 350 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gallagher is excited to be back home this week and said earning his first series victory in his hometown race would be a dream come true.

"I get to go play in front of my hometown crowd. What's not to love about that?" said Gallagher, a Palo Verde High School graduate. "Every driver wants to pick up a win in Las Vegas, and for me, to be able to roll into Victory Lane with all my friends and family around, that would just mean the world to me."

The 26-year-old enters Saturday's 146-mile race 12th in the NCWTS points standings on the strength of six top-10 finishes. Gallagher feels good about the strides he has made with his GMS Racing team and its No. 23 Shade Tree/Noah's Animal House Chevrolet.

"I think it's been a huge developmental year at GMS," said Gallagher, who is making his third career start at LVMS. "I think it's been a year of building and establishing our name as one of the top-tier teams and a force to be reckoned with every weekend, and I couldn't be more pleased about that. I think our 23 team has had speed all year long, and it's been wonderful to see what all of our hard work has accomplished."

His best finish at LVMS was 13th in 2014, and Gallagher crossed the line 15th a year ago when John Wes Townley took the checkered flag. Gallagher said the key to success at the 1.5-mile oval is staying in the hunt until the final few laps.

"Usually, the race is won by the guys with the fastest trucks," Gallagher said. "The key, I think, to Vegas is really having a setup that can handle the bumps and not have the tires fall off over a long race. Fuel mileage comes into play later in the race, but who wins and loses is going to be decided by who can get around this rough, big, fast oval the fastest in a three-lap shootout."

Gallagher has also made six starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season and earned a top-10 finish at Daytona International Speedway. He is open to what the future may hold for him in that series.

"It's definitely an idea that would be great for the progression of GMS Racing and myself," he said. "We'll see how it plays out getting a deal together by the end of this year, but we've had some pretty good success in our first six starts. I think we've been building ourselves a very competitive out-of-the-box program, and I'm looking forward to it leading to more possibilities in the next year."

Gallagher's No. 23 truck will be clad in a black-and-purple paint scheme promoting the Get On Track To End Domestic Violence campaign he and the other GMS Racing drivers are supporting in October. The Las Vegas-based Shade Tree shelter for women and children and the National Domestic Violence Hotline are part of his specific focus.

"It's a great cause to be working with," Gallagher said. "The Shade Tree, in and of itself, is a wonderful organization that's been operating for more than 25 years in Las Vegas. It really is an institution of the valley, and it's great to be able to go out there with them and the National Domestic Violence Hotline on the side of the truck."

Gallagher will be one of several drivers participating in an autograph session in the LVMS Fan Engagement Area from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Pacific Time, giving fans attending the day's "350 Fest" a chance to get up close and personal with the NCWTS stars.

The DC Solar 350's green flag drops at 5:30 p.m., and fireworks will follow immediately after the checkered flag is waved at the conclusion of the 219-mile race. Practice sessions are scheduled for 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 10-11 a.m., and qualifying begins at 3:10 p.m.

Track/Team Release 

Photo Credit: Harold Hinson

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5. Spencer Gallagher Apologizes #nascar #ncwt

Spencer Gallagher Apologizes #nascar #ncwt

Spencer Gallagher issued an apology following an incident in the Drivin' for Lineman 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park.

 

"I would like to take time to address my actions at Gateway Motorsports Park this past weekend. First, I would like to apologize to John Wes Townley. Additionally, to his team and fans, I am sorry. The incident earlier in the race was not intentional and certainly was not meant to cause bigger problems later in the event. My crew, who have worked so hard to get me to where I am this season, did not deserve to have their night ended in that way. My teammates and all of the guys back at the shop deserve more respect than was shown Saturday night. I would also like to apologize to my team owner, who wholeheartedly believes in this organization and expects all of us to perform at our best at all times, no matter the situation. And finally, I would like to extend a sincere apology to the NASCAR community - representatives and fans. I love this sport just as much as all of you and I am ashamed that I was part of an incident that has allowed so many to view what we do in a negative light."

Gallagher and Townley collided twice during Saturday's Drivin' For Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park. The second crash eliminated both drivers from the race and triggered an on-track wrestling match after both drivers exited their crumpled trucks.