NCWTS: GMS Racing Martinsville Speedway Race Recap

Event: Kroger 250

Date: March 28, 2015

Venue: Martinsville Speedway

Spencer Gallagher

Martinsville Speedway

Start – 18th
Finish – 14th
Laps Led – 0
Driver Points Position – 8th (Tie)

Gallagher Endures the Martinsville Battle to Finish 14th

The second trip to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for Spencer Gallagher, driver of the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) resulted in a 14th place finish in the Kroger 250. Gallagher started from the 18th position, and maintained his position in the early stages while lacking front grip in the center of the corner. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender lost a lap to the race leaders near the halfway mark, but steadily worked his way through the field and had advanced inside the top 15. Gallagher earned the Lucky Dog award and regained his lap on a lap 158 caution. Crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz made track bar and wedge adjustments to improve the handling throughout the afternoon as Gallagher cracked the top 10 by lap 174.

The Las Vegas native ran as high as eighth before making his final pit stop under the lap 216 caution, and rejoined the field in 12th. While challenging for a top-10 position, Gallagher was spun by the No. 54 truck, but avoided sustaining damage. The Kroger 250 would finish on a Green-White-Checkered, as Gallagher avoided the mayhem which is often typical of Martinsville, and earned a track-best, 14th place finish at Martinsville. Gallagher’s second top-15 finish of 2015 vaulted him into the top 10 in NCWTS point standings.

SPENCER GALLAGHER QUOTE:
“Our Allegiant Travel Chevrolet really came to us the longer the runs went on. It wasn’t that we improved, but we didn’t have as much fall-off as the guys running around us. At the end of the day, we were still making up spots and gaining track position. I couldn’t be more proud of our GMS Racing team. We made huge improvements on this truck all weekend. This was another step in the right direction, the truck is in one piece, and I’m calling this weekend a success. We improved quite a bit from last year at Martinsville, and I’m excited to come back in October. I think we’ll be even better when we come back (to Martinsville).

Brandon Jones
Martinsville Speedway

Start– 6th
Finish– 15th
Laps Led– 0
No. 33 Owners Points– 7th

Brandon Jones Battles Back to Top-15 Finish at Martinsville Speedway

Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet earned a 15th-place result in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Jones began the afternoon from the sixth position, and solidly ran near the top five for nearly half of the event. On lap 143, Jones got loose in another competitor’s oil and spun in turn two, ultimately losing a lap.

Crew Chief Shane Huffman and Jones strategized throughout the race and bet on a late caution to regain track position. Jones had slipped outside the top-15, but was able to regain his lap via the Lucky Dog award on the lap 250 caution. Jones took advantage of late cautions, and the Green-White-Checkered finish to advance the No. 33 MasterForce Chevrolet to a 15th-place finish in his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start of 2015.

BRANDON JONES QUOTE:
“We had a really fast MasterForce Chevrolet today. Shane (Huffman) and the No. 33 team did a great job this weekend. This was one of our best trucks we’ve had here from the four races that I have run here. Overall, it was a good effort, we just needed to have a little smoother day, and stay on the lead lap to be able to show how strong of a MasterForce Chevrolet we had. We’ll be ready to run up front again at Kansas (Speedway).”