Matt Galko Overcomes Adversity to Capture SK Light Championship in his Rookie Season at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — For the second consecutive season, Stafford Motor Speedway’s SK Light Modified division has shown that a driver doesn’t necessarily need experience in order to become a track champion. Following in the footsteps of Michael Gervais, Jr., Matt Galko, who had never driven an open wheeled modified before the 2010 season, piloted the #20 Davidson Company Chevrolet to the 2010 SK Light championship.
Not only did Galko win the championship as a rookie, but he had to outduel two fellow rookie competitors, Tommy Barrett, Jr. and Joey Cipriano, III, in order to claim the championship. Galko’s path to the championship was anything but a smooth ride for himself and the Davidson team. Galko took over the points lead for the first time following the June 4th event, and with 6 podium finishes in the next 9 events, he looked like a certainty to win the track championship. But a stretch of bad luck over the final month of the season, combined with Barrett winning 8 of the 9 races leading up to the season ending CARQUEST Fall Final, had Galko sitting 6 points behind Barrett for the final race. But a flat tire sidelined Barrett early in the race and Galko went on to win the race, claiming the championship with an exclamation point.
“I told my parents I would be happy with winning either the championship or the race, I never thought I could do both, its an unbelievable feeling,” said Galko. “It feels absolutely amazing, I have no words at all. I don’t know what to say, I feel bad for Tommy, I wish he could have finished the race. I’m excited because I know my crew deserves this. I want to thank Tim Rowe from the Davidson Company because without them I wouldn’t be here at all, my Dad, Tony from T/A Engines, Mike from Magnus, Jeff Malave’s crew, everyone who helped me through the year, I couldn’t have done it without you guys. This was our goal, but I had no idea I could do it. I’m so happy we did it because everyone on this crew deserves it.”
Galko and the Davidson team certainly had their work cut out for them heading into the CARQUEST Fall Final. A crash against the backstretch wall during the Final Friday Night Shoot-Out left the team with a damaged car. But Galko and his crew made the necessary repairs and had the #20 ready to go and setup to win the championship.
“After the [Final Friday Shoot-Out] it was hard to be positive and think of the good things were gonna come,” said Galko. “We worked really hard the last two weeks to get the car back together. I was just going for the win, I had no idea Tommy was even out of the race until someone said something to me in victory lane. I was shaking in victory lane, this means so much to me. The past four races we got wrecked three times so its been a real bad last half of the season. It’s a huge relief because I wanted to get this championship for Tim Rowe and all those guys so bad because they haven’t won a championship here yet, so it was going to mean a lot to me if I would get their first one.”
Galko will officially be crowned the 2010 SK Light Modified track champion at the 41st Annual Stafford Motor Speedway Champions Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 19, 2010 at the La Renaissance Banquet Facility in East Windsor.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR