Spencer Gallagher, driver of the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet Silverado, turned a challenging race into a sixth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Gallagher collected his fifth-consecutive top-10 finish Saturday in the NC Education Lottery 200.
Following the second straight week of inclement weather cancelling qualifying, the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet was lined up second for the postponed race based off of Thursday night’s practice results. A slow start to the 134-lap event caused Gallagher to drop back to the eighth position before the second lap. The Las Vegas native relayed to his crew that he was “way too loose” in the opening laps, but by the time the first caution of the event occurred on lap 24, Gallagher’s Allegiant Travel Chevrolet was tight in the center. Crew chief Jeff Hensley brought Gallagher to pit road from the 19th position for tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. Despite the No. 23 crew’s efforts to alleviate the tight-handling condition, Gallagher continued to struggle with gaining positions and pitted during the second caution of the day on lap 68 from the 18th position. Hensley instructed Gallagher to pit for tires and fuel, return to the track and then re-enter pit road for a second stop for additional adjustments before the field returned to green. When the third and final caution of the day occurred just five laps later, on lap 73, Gallagher returned to pit road for an extended stop for more adjustments to help the same tight-handling condition and to raise the splitter off the track. He rejoined the field in the 25th position for the lap 77 restart. With 23 laps remaining, Hensley explained to his driver that the caution clock would be turned off with 20 laps remaining and that the odds of a caution were slim. Gallagher was told to begin saving fuel, while running in the 16th position, in an effort to make a run at a top-five finish. As the leaders began to pit with 10 laps to go, Gallagher quickly gained track position and entered the top 10 on lap 125. In the closing laps Gallagher worked his way into the sixth position and earned a fifth straight top-10 finish as the checkered flag waved.
Gallagher gained one spot in the driver championship point standings to sit in fourth, 22 points out of first.
Spencer Gallagher Quote:
“There was a galaxy of difference from what we experienced from practicing two nights ago to what we raced with today. Our handling balance changed completely for our Allegiant Travel Chevrolet and frankly, we struggled all day. It really caught us off guard but I think that speaks to the strength of my crew that we were able to come up with a good strategy to fix our lack of speed and we ended up coming out with a sixth place finish.”
GMS Racing PR
- Andy Jankowiak Goes Bananas at Talladega, But a Strong Performance Ends Six Laps Early for KLAS Motorsports - April 22, 2024
- Many Different Winners Celebrate Victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway - April 22, 2024
- Kaleb Johnson Primed for World of Outlaws Weekend at Knoxville Raceway - April 22, 2024