Catch the Action from Martinsville… Saturday’s Kroger 250 at the legendary Martinsville (Va.) Speedway will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 beginning with the SetUp at 2 p.m. ET. The race will also be live on MRN and SIRIUS/XM NASCAR Radio.
Spencer Gallagher
No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet Silverado
Kroger 250 Event Preview – Martinsville Speedway
Gallagher Set Up For Short Track Success at Martinsville
Martinsville Return… Saturday’s Kroger 250 marks Spencer Gallagher’s second NCWTS start at Martinsville Speedway. Gallagher, driver of the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet, looks to parlay his team’s raw speed from the first two races of 2015 into a stellar finish at NASCAR’s oldest racetrack. Martinsville is the first track of the 2015 campaign where Gallagher has previous NCWTS experience.
Short Track History… This weekend’s Kroger 250 marks Gallagher’s third short track start in the NCWTS. Gallagher scored his career-best NCWTS short track finish at the Iowa Speedway last season with an 11th place finish. In the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (ARCA), Gallagher has 26 short track starts with a best finish of second, twice at Salem (Ind.) Speedway. In his only Martinsville start last March, Gallagher finished 25th.
In the Rearview Mirror – Atlanta… Four weeks ago at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Gallagher’s first start at the Peach State’s quad oval resulted in a strong 13th place effort. Gallagher posted the sixth fastest time in practice, qualified ninth, and consistently posted top-ten lap times throughout the 134 lap race. After two of 23 races, Gallagher currently sits 13th in NCWTS points, and third in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
Martinsville Chassis Choice… Crew Chief Jeff Stankiewicz has chosen chassis No. 021 for Gallagher to race this weekend at the “Paperclip”. Chassis No. 021, affectionately called “Slim Shady”, was most recently in action with Joey Coulter behind the wheel last October at Martinsville. An incident relegated Coulter to a 30th place finish after starting 11th.
Travel is Our Deal… Allegiant operates non-stop flights from Florida to Greensboro, N.C. (GSO) and Roanoke, Va. (ROA) which service the surrounding area of Martinsville Speedway. Based in Las Vegas, Allegiant makes leisure travel convenient and affordable. With low-low fares, nonstop flights, all-jet service and premier travel partners, Allegiant provides a complete travel experience with a great value without all the hassle.
Meet Spencer… There are four race weekends remaining to collect the first of four collectable hero cards of Gallagher, which is available through the Dover International Speedway race weekend in May. Gallagher is scheduled to participate in the NCWTS driver’s autograph session on Friday evening from 5-5:45 p.m. ET following NCWTS Final Practice. Additionally, he is scheduled to stop by the Team Chevy display in the midway on Saturday morning at 10:10 a.m. ET with GMS Racing teammate, Brandon Jones.
SPENCER GALLAGHER QUOTE:
What did you learn about Martinsville in your first start?
“Martinsville is a racetrack that tests everything about a race team. Running well there requires a driver and crew chief to have great communication all weekend to make the right adjustments because of how much the concrete changes. It’s a difficult racetrack to get around, and really requires a different approach than any other track we have on the schedule. Jeff (Stankiewicz) and the GMS Racing team have had great trucks prepared this year, and I’m confident we’ll have a strong Allegiant Travel Chevrolet this weekend.”
How much of your previous short track experience applies to Martinsville?
“I’ve run several short tracks in ARCA (Racing Series), but Martinsville is unique unto itself. Our first outing at Martinsville was cut short last year, but we’ll take that experience from last year and apply it this weekend. Martinsville produces a raw, old-school, style of short track racing, and it’s so much different than other tracks because of the incredibly tight corners. We’ll have to take care of our tires, keep our nose relatively clean to have our Allegiant Travel Chevrolet in contention. GMS Racing has brought great trucks to the track to start the season, and hopefully we can continue that performance this weekend.”
No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet Silverado
Kroger 250 Event Preview – Martinsville Speedway
Jones Returns to GMS Racing at Martinsville
Kicking off the Season… Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet, kicks off his 17-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule for GMS Racing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway this weekend in the Kroger 250. Jones will pilot the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for the next eight consecutive NCWTS races.
Martinsville History … At age 18, Jones already has a level of experience at Martinsville unlike most drivers his age. The Kroger 250 marks the Atlanta, Ga. native’s fourth start at the “Paperclip”. He made his first start there in October of 2013. Through three NCWTS starts at Martinsville, Jones has an average finish of 22nd and posted his best Martinsville finish (15th) in March 2014.
In the Rearview Mirror – 2014 … In 2014, Jones made two NCWTS starts with GMS Racing, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet. Last October at Martinsville, Jones ran inside the top five before a late race incident negated his impressive run. At Phoenix International Raceway, Jones posted his best finish with GMS Racing of 12th last November. He competed full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, scoring his first-career win at Iowa Speedway. Jones also earned two consecutive victories in three ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards (ARCA) starts at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind.
Chevrolet Success at Martinsville … No other manufacturer has won more NCWTS races at Martinsville than Chevrolet. Jones and the No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet team look to add to the 11 wins Chevrolet has captured in the 32 NCWTS races run at Martinsville.
Martinsville Chassis Choice … Jones will wheel chassis No. 024 in his fourth Martinsville start. This chassis was most recently in action at Texas Motor Speedway last October where Max Gresham posted a seventh-place finish in the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado.
MasterForce: The Right Performance … MasterForce tools deliver the right performance at the right price for your most demanding projects. Their extensive line of power tools includes drills, saws, sanders, combo kits, grinders, multi-purpose tools, nailers and staplers, woodworking tools, and power tool accessories. These power tools are sure to help you breeze through even the toughest jobs. MasterForce’s selection of hand tools includes hammers, ratchets and sockets, levels, drywall tools, nut and screw drivers, fastening tools, wrenches and masonry tools. MasterForce also offers tools for landscaping, tile work and plumbing that meet or exceed industry standards to provide both excellence and value. Their rugged tool chests & boxes, tool belts & bags, and truck boxes will help you keep your tools organized and easy-to-find. MasterForce product lines can be purchased at Menards Home Centers and online at menards.com.
Meet Brandon … On Friday, March 27, Jones is scheduled to participate in the NCWTS autograph session at 5 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. ET, following NCWTS final practice. Jones is also scheduled to visit the Team Chevy stage in the midway on Saturday morning at 10:10 a.m. ET with his GMS Racing teammate, Spencer Gallagher.
On starting the schedule off at Martinsville Speedway?
“This will be my fourth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Martinsville, so it’s a place that I’m familiar with and have plenty of laps at. It’s great to be paired with (crew chief) Shane Huffman again this season. We ran the K&N Pro Series East and some truck races last year together, and have a good working relationship. I think we’re capable of running in the top five this weekend with our MasterForce Chevrolet, and put ourselves in position to get a good finish.”
On his expectations for the 2015 NCWTS season?
“I’m looking forward to getting on every racetrack that’s new to me this year. Last season in the K&N Pro Series (East), Shane (Huffman) and I prepped for seeing new tracks each week, and we’ll apply that same approach all year at GMS Racing. Our Charlotte (Motor Speedway) test went really well last year, and I’m looking forward to the intermediate track racing. Once we get two or three races in, we hope to be a weekly contender for race wins. I’ve been to just about every short track we have on the schedule, and feel like we should be close to getting a win at some point this season. There are a lot of talented, smart people at GMS Racing, and it’s very encouraging to have the entire team’s support.”
