Photo: Justin R. Noe/ASP, Inc.

Gallagher Set to Make 50th Career Start in Return to NASCAR

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

SPARTA, Ky. – In addition to completing the Road to Recovery, Spencer Gallagher will reach a career milestone in Saturday’s Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway.

The GMS Racing driver will make his 50th career NASCAR Xfinity Series start, his first since winning at Talladega Superspeedway two months ago. It is also the first since he was suspended for violating NASCAR’s substance abuse policy.

Gallagher has five starts at the Sparta, Kentucky track, two in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, two in the Xfinity Series, and one in the ARCA Racing Series. His best career finish was third in the 2013 ARCA race. Since then, Gallagher has yet to finish inside the top-10 at the unique 1.5-mile track.

“I really enjoy racing at Kentucky (Speedway),” Gallagher said. “It’s a unique track because of the different banking in both ends. It’s a freshly paved track but still has some of those rough characteristics. With this new downforce package, I feel like it will be a really good race.”

“This is my first race back since completing NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program and I am more ready than ever to get back behind the wheel of the No. 23 Chevrolet and to be back with my team. They have worked so hard and I will do my best to give them the finish they deserve.”

For the Alsco 300, Gallagher will be utilizing chassis No. 222. The car has two previous starts this season, an 11th-place finish with Gallagher at Auto Club Speedway, and a sixth-place finish with Johnny Sauter at Dover International Speedway.

In Gallagher’s 49 Xfinity Series starts to date, he has earned one victory, two top-fives, and seven top-10s. The Las Vegas, NV native has led just one career lap, the final lap at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this season. That was also the first Xfinity Series victory for GMS Racing.

In total, Gallagher has 98 starts in NASCAR’s National Series. 49 in the Xfinity Series, and 59 in the Truck Series. Kentucky will mark his 99th NASCAR National Series start.

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Seth Eggert has followed NASCAR his entire life. Seth is currently pursuing a writing career and is majoring in Communications and Journalism. He is an avid iRacer and video gamer. Seth also tutors students at Mitchell Community College in multiple subjects. He has an Associate's Degree in History.