Turn the Page: Galko Determined to Improve
Former SK Light Modified Champion Sets Top-10 Goal
Matt Galko of Meriden, CT is eager for the potential of a new racing season.
Galko, admittedly, did not have lady luck on his side last season. Galko had one top five and five top 10s in 17 starts at Stafford Motor Speedway last season. He missed one race due to a blown engine in practice.
“We struggled a lot with the chassis at Stafford, which is why we got a new one,” Galko said. “It was a really rough season. We had some good races with a fifth place and sixth place finish with a handful of top-10’s, but we didn’t have much luck. We had some good runs in the 25 car also with a fourth and a fifth but once again our luck wasn’t there. In the 150 lapper at Waterford, we were running around sixth and our motor blew on the last lap. … So all in all, it was a tough season but that just motivates me more to come back strong next season. It helps that I’m surrounded by such great people and everyone works so hard and is determined to win.”
Galko is building a new Troyer car in advance of the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler at Stafford on April 26-27. If the car is not ready, Galko will use the Chassis Dynamics car that he drove last season. Regardless, he hopes to debut the new chassis this season. Galko intends to compete at Stafford full-time, pending sponsorship. He picked up additional sponsorship from Pay-less Oil, and A&R Auto Body.
“My goals are to have some strong runs and get the handling down at Stafford so we can be strong each week,” Galko said. “I would like to get a win or some podium finishes. I would like to get podium finishes at multiple tracks and get back in the top 10 in points at Stafford.”
NAPA Auto Parts of Wallingford, Fazzino’s Auto Parts, Garrett’s Carpentry and Dry Wall, Tech Circuits, Duchess Restaurant are the sponsors on the black #3. Dave Galko Jr. , Dave Galko Sr. , Tim Rowe ,Glenn Carchidi, Ryan Mclean, Jeff Cembruch, and Jason Roy are the crew members.
Galko will drive the #25 Acme Sanitation/Kris’s Lawn Care Sunoco Modified at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on April 5-6. Galko also plans on entering the Tri-Track Series races at Lee USA and Seekonk. He is uncertain if the Westerly, RI team will enter the event at Star Speedway in June. He may also enter the World Series at Thompson and two events at Waterford: the Thunder on the Sound SK 150 (August 30) and the Finale Weekend (October 4-5).
Galko drove five races for eNVy Motorsports (Krista and Nick Verno) last season. He finished fourth in Seekonk’s $5,000 to win race and fifth in the World Series at Thompson. He also entered three events at Waterford Speedbowl.
The team’s sponsors. Crew members for the #25 team’s effort are Nick Verno, Kirsta Verno, Mike Verno, Eric Julian, Stosh Mud, Mike Geer, Mike Hurd, Doc Dyer, and Glenn Carchidi.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com