LEBANON, Tenn. (April 23, 2011) — Cale Gale returned to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado at Nashville Superspeedway. The young driver qualified the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) machine in the 20th position for the start of the Friday night event. When the field roared to life, Gale quickly worked his way up multiple positions.
As the 150-lap contest approached the 30 lap mark, Gale reported to crew chief Bruce Cook that his Chevrolet was a touch free. Cook worked up a plan for the team to make both air-pressure and chassis adjustments on a green-flag pit stop which came at lap 55. The Rheem team quickly made the adjustments and bolted on four fresh tires in addition to topping the vehicle off with fuel.
Back on track in the 26th position, Gale worked to remain on the lead lap, but fell a lap down to the leaders. Only four laps later, the first yellow flag of the night tightened up the strung-out field. Gale relayed to Cook that the truck was still a bit free, but the team opted to remain on track, restarting in 25th. The driver lost two more positions in the ensuing green-flag racing, running 27th when the second caution came out on lap 76 for oil on the racetrack. Cook called the No. 2 Rheem machine to pit road for four tires and fuel before sending Gale back on track.
Unfortunately, Gale still struggled with the truck, running two laps down to the leaders by the third yellow flag for the night on lap 103. Calling the driver back to the pits for right-side tires and fuel, Cook urged Gale to conserve fuel in an attempt to make it to the checkered flag without another pit stop.
Restarting 27th on lap 106, Gale had worked his way into the 24th position maintaining the spot until he began to feel signs of a tire going down on lap 137. He immediately brought the No. 2 down pit road to the attention of his KHI crew, but the flags were not in his favor as the yellow waved while the truck was on pit road. Gale took the lap 142 restart from the 29th position and maintained the position as he brought the Rheem Chevrolet Silverado across the finish line.
The Truck Series returns to action on May 13 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Watch the trucks battle under the lights live on SPEED at 8:30 p.m. EST.
RACE RECAP:
April 22, 2011
Nashville Superspeedway
Race: 5 of 25
Started: 20th
Finished: 29th
Up Next On The Truck Series Schedule:
Date: May 13, 2011
Driver: Elliott Sadler
Track: Dover (Del.) International Speedway
Event Name: Lucas Oil 200
Broadcast: MRN at 5:00 p.m. ET,
SPEED at 8:30 p.m.