BNS: Loudon: Mike Gallo preview

Mike Gallo, Woodworks Racing to unveil new car, paint scheme at New Hampshire International Speedway

Mike Gallo, who drives Fred and Elaine Skaff's Woodworks Racing/Archer Corporation Ford Taurus in select events on the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch North Series, will unveil a bold new look on their car for this coming weekend's New England 125, which will be held at the one-mile New Hampshire International Speedway on Saturday, July 19th.

"We have an exciting deal coming up," Gallo, a native of Sanford, Maine, said. "I think we have one of the best looking Busch North cars to ever hit the track. It's a brand new car with a brand new engine. Everything on the car is new, this is going to be our best piece by far. This is the time to perform. We need a good run for the sponsors and to turn this year around."

The Dale Averill-designed car features a blue base color with orange and yellow flames running up the hood and down the sides. The Woodworks Racing logo is featured prominently on the hood, with Archer Corporation being displayed on the rear fenders. Powering the car will be a new Ernie Elliott engine.

Gallo, 29, considers the "Magic Mile" in Loudon, New Hampshire to be his favorite track.

"We've done really well at Loudon," he said. "I've qualified on the outside pole once, and started in the top five numerous times. I've always run well there, running in the top five and finishing in the top ten. I'd like to run in the top ten on Saturday, and I would love a top five finish. I'd like to start up front, which I know I can do, and run up front. That means I have to keep the car under me, and I know we can do that. Loudon is my track, and I feel comfortable there. I think we're going to run up front and show people what we're capable of."

Crew Chief Steve Bird, who has four Busch Grand National Series championships under his belt, will lead the team into the New England 125.

"You can't beat Steve Bird's experience," Gallo said. "We haven't shown our potential at all this year, which we really thought we would. We really thought we'd be a lot further along. But chassis-wise, the cars are going extremely well, he's just perfect with the springs and shocks package. Everything he's done down south only helps us, so I think we're going to Loudon with a great shot at a top five finish.

"I think this program is coming together," he continued. "Everything's in place, we just haven't had any good racing luck yet. The accident at Erie didn't help, and having a tire blow out and crashing a car testing for Holland, and having to miss that race, was terrible. While it's tough to put those things aside, you have to do that and move on. The key here is that we need a good run. If we can do that, we can really save this season. I think we have a good shot at both races at New Hampshire, at Dover, and at Adirondack. We'll probably run some other races towards the end of the year to make up for missing Holland, and I'm looking forward to doing those too."

The No. 33 Busch North team is backed by The Woodworks, Archer Corporation, Skaff Refrigeration, and Don Black. For more information on the team, visit its website at www.woodworksracing.com.