Cale Gale Bristol Motor Speedway Event Preview

Back at Bristol… Cale Gale will return to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (“World’s Fastest Half-Mile”) for the third time in his career on Wednesday, August 22.  The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has made one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) and one NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) start at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile previously in his career.  With each race resulting in a top-10 finish, Gale has completed every lap he attempted at the fast track with an average start of eighth, and an average finish of 6.5.  In his most recent event at Bristol Motor Speedway, Gale sat on the pole and drove to a fourth-place finish in the August 2008 NNS race.

Spending Time with Students in the Tri-Cities Area… Gale made a special trip to the tri-cities area last Wednesday, August 15, to help promote the upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender stopped at two elementary schools to talk to students about staying in school, working hard and staying safe while doing things like riding a bike.  Gale was joined by Daytona NCWTS winner John King on visits to Weber City Elementary School in Weber City, Va. and Lake Ridge Elementary School in Johnson City, Tenn.  Between the two schools, Gale spoke to approximately 600 students in an effort to spread awareness that kids 15 and under are free for the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Battling for Points… With just 10 races remaining in the 2012 NCWTS’ season, Gale is currently ranked inside the top-15 of both the championship driver and owner point standings.  Gale, who has scored three top-10 finishes this season, is ranked 13th in driver points and 15th in owner points.  Currently second in the Rookie of the Year points, Gale is chasing down leader Ty Dillon.

Follow Cale… Follow Cale Gale, driver of the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado, on twitter @CaleGale and Facebook (facebook.com/CaleGale), and check out CaleGale.com for the latest news and updates.

Get the Inside Scoop…  Follow Eddie Sharp Racing on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook to get real-time updates and behind-the-scenes information:  @TeamESR or facebook.com/teamesr.

Watch and Listen… The action will heat up as the stars of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beat and bang under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 22.  Qualifying from the World’s Fastest Half-Mile will be broadcast on SPEED at 5:00 p.m. ET.  Live coverage of the UNOH 200 will be aired on SPEED, MRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

From the Driver’s Seat

Cale Gale Quotes… On how to get around Bristol:  “It’s all about manhandling the truck at Bristol.  It’s a fast track where you use very little brake.  We need to really focus on the handling of the Rheem Chevrolet and get that right; it isn’t about aerodynamics or running around flat-footed at that track.  You have to play with the throttle coming up off the corner to find grip.  This year’s race will be interesting with the new track configuration.  I think it will take away the ability to run against the wall-at least for this race-but I still think that we’ll see two grooves of racing.  With only two grooves, I think there will be a lot more beating and banging, which is what the fans said they wanted to see.  It should be a really exciting race; I’m looking forward to being a part of it with the Rheem Chevrolet.”

On looking forward to Bristol Motor Speedway:  “Bristol Motor Speedway is one of my favorite tracks on the NASCAR circuit; it’s a fast, high-banked half-mile, just like the tracks I grew up racing.  There are very few short tracks left on the schedule, and coming from a short-track background I always look forward to races like Bristol and Martinsville with the Rheem Chevrolet.  Bristol [Motor Speedway] really fits my driving style-it’s where I have my best NASCAR finish and my only pole award.  We’ve had a couple races where we’ve been close with the Rheem Chevrolet, and I feel like this is a track where we really have the potential to have a good night, compete up front and even race for the win.  I’m really looking forward to Wednesday night.”  

On watching the action from Bristol as a kid:  “Bristol was always my favorite track growing up. I never missed watching that race-if my dad or I were racing that night we made sure that we had a TV to keep up with the action at Bristol.  It’s a really exciting place to race; I can’t wait to get back out there with the Rheem Chevrolet.”

From the Pit Box                       

Jerry Baxter Quotes… On getting ready to race at Bristol Motor Speedway:  “The entire Rheem team is really looking forward to the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.  It’s a track where Cale has always run well, and I’ve always had good runs there as a crew chief too.  We feel like we have a good opportunity to capitalize on our strengths and have a strong run this week.  We’re taking chassis No. 46; it’s the same truck that we ran at Rockingham and Pocono.  The biggest unknown going into this weekend is simply the track-it’s a new track.  Cale had a media event in Bristol last week and was able to get inside to take a look at the surface and communicate to us what it looked like.  It will be interesting to see how the race unfolds.”

ESR