BNS: Loudon: Mike Gallo preview

Mike Gallo Optimistic Heading Into Siemens 125

(Sanford, Maine - July 21, 2004) - Mike Gallo knows a thing or two about New Hampshire International Speedway.

The Sanford, Maine driver won the pole for last fall's NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series and ran second until the first round of pit stops. He'll take that expertise and experience to a new team for 2004, and hopes to continue his qualifying success and improve his race finish as well.

"Everybody knows that I qualify well at Loudon, but I haven't had the luck in finishing the races like I qualify," he said. "I've got numerous top-five qualifying runs here, but we need a good finish for this race team."

Now driving for JBR Racing, owned by Jim Burgess, Gallo is looking to improve on his best finish of eleventh at the one-mile track. The team already has one race under its belt, running Lime Rock Park in May with track record holder Bryan Wall at the wheel. A minor mechanical failure kept the team from scoring a top-five finish, but Wall showed the team was capable of setting up a car to go fast no matter the track configuration. Gallo hopes to finish what Wall started at his own favorite track.

"I couldn't be happier," Gallo said at a recent test session. "It's the same car that I sat on the pole here with last fall, now with Cosworth power, and it's been great, with the car being consistent all day . It's very comfortable, the car feels great. For a brand new team, we're working well together.

"I think we're going to be a real good dark horse when we come back here," he continued. "I just want to get a good finish and that's all you can ask of a brand new team. There's guys on this team who have never been to a race track before. They're doing a great job working with Steve Bird and Todd Graffam, they're all doing a fantastic job with this team. We're hoping to do the best that we can."

Race fans who can't catch the Siemens 125 in person Saturday afternoon can do so by watching the live broadcast on HDnet television with coverage starting at 3:30 p.m., following the NASCAR Busch Series 200-lapper. The race will be reaired on SpeedTV at noon on September 4th.