Source: NASCAR/kg
Date: 05/30/2007

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- This year’s freshman class of drivers in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series face a big learning curve in their challenge for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, racing on many tracks they have never seen before.

One of those rookies, Mike Gallegos (No. 77 King Taco Ford), is looking forward to competing on familiar territory as the West Series heads to his home track for the NAPA 150 at Colorado National Speedway north of Denver on Saturday, June 2. The event will be televised to a national audience live in high definition on HDNet. In addition, SPEED is to provide an enhanced replay.

“It’s good for our team because it’s the only track I have experience on, besides Phoenix,” said Gallegos, who raced in the Late Model class at the 3/8-mile track between 2001 and 2004. “It gives us something to look forward to. It’s going to give us a fair shake to see where we need to improve on our program. It’s nice to go someplace you’re familiar with.”

Gallegos is cautious about making too much of his experience at CNS, however. “Although it’s my backyard, I don’t necessarily think I have any advantage, because the drivers are so good in the West Series,” said the 24-year-old driver from Wheat Ridge, Colo. He admitted, meanwhile, that his knowledge may help him predict how changing track conditions may dictate changes to the suspension of his race car.

Gallegos is in 10th place among a large field of talented first-year drivers in the West Series. A strong performance on his home track could give him a boost in his challenge for the prestigious Sunoco rookie title.

“Unfortunately, I think we’re so far behind in the rookie race that it’s going to be hard to catch up, but we’re going to try,” Gallegos said. “It should be a good race for us. The rookie field is so talented this year. They’re all going to be up on the wheel. It’s going to be a good race.”

The race could also serve as an overall turning point for Gallegos and his team.

“If we can get some momentum here and we can get some confidence, I think it definitely could help out,” Gallegos said. “It’s a race track where I’ve had success. So, if we can have success, we know we’re capable. If we don’t have success, I think we’re going to be able to evaluate where we need to work on. It’s going to be a good deal for us.”

Gallegos is in his third season of participating in the Drive for Diversity program. He raced in the Late Model class at Caraway (N.C.) Speedway in 2005 and was part of the D4D program again in 2006 – competing in the NASCAR Elite Division, Midwest Series and finishing seventh in the championship standings.

In addition to racing in the Late Model class at Colorado, Gallegos has competed there while racing in the Elite Division, known by many as “the tour.” “We ran probably six or seven tour races there and I don’t believe I’ve ever qualified outside the top 10,” he said. “Several years ago I led 75 laps of a tour race there. I broke a rocker arm with four laps to go.”

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