“I went out for the first run after making a few successful runs the night before at the Houston track and I was stoked to be in my first actual race,” Gallegos said. “The burnout went well and I got it stopped and into reverse. As I gained speed I tried to find neutral and that’s when I ran into problems. Very quickly I realized something was wrong so I grabbed the brake. I thought about all the people behind me and so I cranked the wheel to turn it over so I didn’t injure anyone in the lanes behind me. I braced myself, it hit and laid down on its side and I shut the fuel off.
“The car turned out to be fine, but most importantly I didn‘t cause injury to anyone behind me. Mitch gave me the option to continue racing after he went over the car and I got right back in it and went 4.38 to grab the number ten spot! Hey, at least now everyone knows my name!”
The 4.387 by Gallegos held up for the bump spot in the field of the quickest ten cars.
Final Qualifying Order:
1) Jack Hodgson - 4.05
2) Travis Bouchey - 4.08
3) Donny McSwain - 4.13
4) Bobby Marriott - 4.16
5) Larry Reep - 4.20
6) Donnie Massey - 4.21
7) Nick Poloson - 4.24
8) Tim Hay - 4.314
9) Brad Rigler - 4.316
10) Dave Gallegos - 4.387
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11) DoDad Burton - 4.389
12) Wayne Lewis - 4.39
13) John Broussard - 4.57
14) Tom Butherus - 5.05
15) Jimmy Todd - No Time
16) John Tappan - No Time
First Round Results:
Bobby Marriott (.494 rt) 4.08 at 187 mph def. Brad Rigler (.492 rt) 4.19 at 164 mph
Donnie Massey (.433 rt) 4.28 at 166 mph def. Jack Hodgson (.397 rt) 4.33 at 148 mph
Donny McSwain (.600 rt) 4.12 at 173 mph def. Tim Hay (Broke)
Travis Bouchey (.523 rt) 3.95 at 194 mph def. Nick Poloson (.452 rt) 4.25 at 163 mph
Larry Reep (.417 rt) 10.69 at 40 mph def. Dave Gallegos (.587 rt) 4.70 at 106 mph (DQ)
Bouchey has a love-hate relationship with this facility. He found the winner’s circle at Pine Valley in 2005 with his alcohol car, but failed to qualify at the second event at Lufkin that same season, which lost him the chance at the championship in 2005.
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