GLENDORA, California -- With a hometown crowd cheering his every move, Mike Gallegos utilized their energy and enthusiasm and some racing persistence to post his first top ten finish of his NASCAR Grand National Division-West Series rookie year in Saturday night's NAPA 150 at Colorado National Speedway.
Gallegos, a native of Wheat Ridge, Colo., piloting the No. 77 King Taco/Performance Motorsports Ford Fusion, pulled off the eight-place finish by methodically moving through traffic and avoiding incidents so commonplace in short track racing.
With his top ten finish, Gallegos gained four positions and is 17th in the championship points standings.
"This really feels good," said the beaming Mike Gallegos. "This was a good finish for us and definitely a momentum builder. My team really worked hard not only for this race, but all year long and they're pumped up about this finish. I'm proud of them for the job they did to keep me on the lead lap."
Gallegos, a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, started the day in19th and looked to improve his position in the 56-mile race. Racing two and three wide on this 3/8 mile, multi-groove short track, Gallegos moved through the field. With 76 laps remaining, Gallegos had moved into the 13th position.
"My strategy was to improve our position without tearing the fenders off the car or blistering the tires." said Gallegos. "We wanted to have something left for the last 30 laps of the race. We had a good car for this race. Jason (crew chief, McGriff) is really finding the balance on this hot rod."
The race was not without incident for Gallegos. He headed for the pits on lap 96 for a cut tire. Quick work by his pit crew and a subsequent lucky dog pass kept Gallegos on the lead lap. Gallegos headed for the pits again on lap 125 to repair damage. The Performance Motorsports pit crew performed flawlessly and Gallegos again benefited from the luck dog pass.
The partisan crowd at Colorado National Speedway, the only NASCAR track in Colorado, came to see their hometown favorite and NASCAR rookie in Victory Lane.
"My pits were overflowing with family and friends," said Gallegos. "I am honored that they all came out in support. We finished well and they had a great time."
The West Series competitors head to the sun-drenched Infineon Raceway road course in Sonoma, Calif. on June 23 for the Blue Lizard Australian Sunscream 200.
