Spencer Gallagher Earns First Victory at Kansas Speedway

[rebelracewriter]

 

GMS Racing

 

Race Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer Gallagher Earns First Victory at Kansas Speedway

 

 

 

Spencer Gallagher, driver of the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, earned a hard-fought victory in the ARCA 98.9 at Kansas Speedway on Friday evening. Gallagher and crew chief, Jeff Stankiewicz, executed a perfect pit stop to help to secure the win. The result marks Gallagher's first career ARCA Racing Series win, as well as his first win with GMS Racing, and the third victory for the team. The 24-year old began the 99-lap event from the 32nd position after persistent rain Friday morning forced officials to suspend the final practice session, and Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell was canceled. The 33-car field was set based on the ARCA Racing Series owner point standings. As the race began, Gallagher immediately began working his way into the top-15, accelerating into 11th place by Lap 10. On Lap 20, while in seventh, he radioed to Stankiewicz that he was able to run the Allegiant Travel Chevrolet in the top line, so he was able to turn laps faster than the race leader, working his way to the front. On Lap 46 Gallagher entered pit road sixth, under the first yellow flag, and Stankiewicz called for four Hoosier radials, a track bar adjustment and fuel. The fast pit work by the GMS Racing crew helped the Las Vegas natives quick return to the racing surface, where he secured the first position. On the Lap 59 restart, Gallagher took the green flag in the lead. Following the next two caution periods, the No. 23 GMS Racing team opted to stay out, and by Lap 86, Gallagher had just over two tenths of a second lead over teammate Grant Enfinger. With seven laps remaining, the yellow flag flew for the fourth and final time when Gallaghers teammate was sidelined by a blown tire. Gallagher led for a total of 53 laps, firmly taking his first ARCA Racing Series victory in the 2014 season finale at Kansas Speedway.

 

 

 

Start - 32 Finish - 1 Laps Led - 53

 

 

 

Spencer Gallagher Quote:

 

It has been a long road for us. We had a very fast car in practice, but I knew it was going to be tough to come from 32nd-place to the front. When we came to pit road, my GMS Racing team gave us a blazing stop. We went from sixth to first, and the major changes we made ended up being dead on-point. We didnt hit it a little; we took a big swing at it, and it worked. Once I got out front, the Allegiant Travel Chevrolet just set sail.

 

 

 

Grant Enfinger has Rough Finish after Strong Early Surge at Kansas Speedway

 

Earns Runner-Up Spot in ARCA Racing Series Championship

 

 

 

Grant Enfinger and the No. 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet team started the ARCA 98.9 at Kansas Speedway from the second position when rain washed out qualifying and the field was set by ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards owners points. It didnt take long for Enfinger to move his way towards the front of the field, when he secured the lead by the end of the first lap. Enfinger led for the first five laps of the 99-lap event. By Lap 10, the Fairhope, Ala. native had some stiff competition and settled into the top three. Enfinger reported the car was handling better to his GMS Racing team. The 29-year-old held the fourth position until the caution flag was waved on Lap 45, and under caution, crew chief Ryan Pickle London called him in for four tires, fuel and some fine-tuning with slight air pressure adjustments to improve the No. 90 Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolets handling. Enfinger restarted from the fourth position at Lap 59. Over the course of the evening, Enfinger reported that the Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet was handling loose and then tight at the end of a run. Enfinger remained inside the top four as the race unfolded over the next two caution periods, and by the restart on Lap 82, he was battling teammate Spencer Gallagher for the lead as he lined up next to Gallagher. Enfinger was poised for his seventh victory of the season, proving that the Motor Honey/Casite, Allegiant Travel Chevrolet was one of the fastest cars on the track when he posted the fastest lap time of the night. With seven laps to go, he sustained a blown left-front tire. The incident resulted in a 17th-place finish for Enfinger, securing him second place in the ARCA Racing Series driver championship point standings.

 

 

 

Start - 2 Finish - 17 Laps Led - 5

 

 

 

Grant Enfinger Quote:

 

It was very unfortunate that we cut down the left-front tire at the end of the race, but I couldn't be happier for my teammate Spencer (Gallagher) and GMS Racing for the hard-earned victory. Our team was able to showcase what fast cars we have yet again. I can't thank everyone enough for the support getting us through the year, it's definitely been a dream come true. A big thank you to Casite/Motor Honey, Allegiant Travel, WURTH USA, Triple K Construction, Franklin Fastener and to everyone that is a part of GMS Racing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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