Tommy Gale
Born(1934-09-10)September 10, 1934
McKeesport, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedSeptember 30, 1999(1999-09-30) (aged 65)
NASCAR Cup Series career
246 races run over 17 years
Best finish15th – 1981
First race1968 American 500 (Rockingham)
Last race1986 Winston 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 4 0

Tommy Gale (September 10, 1934 – September 30, 1999) was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car driver from McKeesport, Pennsylvania who raced from 1968 to 1986. He ended up becoming one of the runners-up for the 1977 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award.

Career

Gale started as a NASCAR Cup Series rookie when he was 34 years old and competed until his retirement at the age of 51. Leading only three laps of his 60,655-lap spanning career, Gale managed to make $683,965 in total winnings ($1,825,983.06 when adjusted for inflation). While starting in 27th place on average, his average finishes were 22nd place after competing in a grueling 75,239.7 miles or 121,086.6 kilometres of top-level professional stock car racing.[1]

His only three DNQs came at the 1972 Miller High Life 500, the 1973 Daytona 500 and at the 1984 Talladega 500.[2]

Gale's strongest performances are on short oval tracks where he finished an average of 20th place. His weakness would be found on road courses; where a finish of 28th place would be expected out of Gale.[3] His primary vehicle throughout his career was the #64 Ford machine owned by fellow NASCAR driver Elmo Langley.[4]

Post-NASCAR career

After Tommy Gale retired from NASCAR, he decided to focus on his son and started a trucking business in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania; which is near his hometown of McKeesport.[5]

Motorsports results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 NGNC Pts Ref
1968 Lyle Stelter 56 Mercury MGR MGY RSD DAY BRI RCH ATL HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR GPS DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWS AUG CLT CAR
30		 JFC N/A 0 [6]
1969 Don Culpepper 76 Ford MGR MGY RSD DAY DAY
12		 DAY CAR AUG BRI ATL CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS MAR AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT MGR SMR MCH KPT GPS NCF DAY DOV TPN TRN BLV BRI NSV SMR ATL MCH SBO BGS AWS DAR HCY RCH TAL CLB MAR NWS CLT SVH AUG CAR JFC MGR TWS 90th 39 [7]
1970 Walt Valerio 03 Ford RSD DAY
15		 DAY 52nd 271 [8]
Mercury DAY
31		 RCH CAR SVH ATL BRI TAL NWS CLB DAR BLV LGY CLT SMR MAR MCH
36		 RSD HCY KPT GPS DAY AST TPN TRN
10		 BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB ONA MCH TAL BGS SBO DAR HCY RCH DOV
27		 NCF NWS CLT MAR MGR CAR LGY
1971 Larry Jackson RSD DAY DAY
9		 DAY
21		 ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL
22		 CLB GPS SMR NWS MAR DAR SBO TAL
37		 ASH KPT CLT DOV MCH
18		 RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP TRN
24		 NSV ATL BGS ONA TAL
14		 CLB HCY DAR MAR CLT DOV
23		 CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS 41st 729 [9]
Richard Giachetti 44 Ford MCH
11

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1972 Frank Vasko 03 Mercury RSD DAY
11		 RCH ONT
DNQ		 CAR ATL
27		 BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV TAL
28		 MCH NSV DAR
16		 RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
23		 CAR
39		 TWS 41st 1298 [10]
Richard Giachetti 44 Ford MCH
DNQ		 RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL
1973 Frank Vasko 03 Mercury RSD DAY
DNQ		 RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR 57th N/A [11]
Gale Racing TAL
13		 NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD ATL
37		 TAL
48		 NSV DAR
36		 RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR
Chevy MCH
25		 DAY BRI
1975 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY
23		 RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH 46th 437 [12]
Champion Racing 10 Ford DAY
18		 NSV POC
28		 TAL MCH DAR
22		 DOV
35		 NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT
1976 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY
DNQ		 CAR
15		 RCH BRI ATL
35		 NWS DAR
22		 MAR TAL
18		 NSV DOV
37		 CLT RSD MCH
21		 POC
34		 TAL
40		 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
25		 MAR NWS CLT CAR
24		 ATL ONT
17		 33rd 1005 [13]
Henley Gray 19 Chevy DAY
29		 NSV
1977 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY
DNQ		 RCH CAR
21		 ATL
22		 NWS DAR
21		 BRI MAR
23		 TAL
15		 NSV DOV
18		 CLT
37		 RSD MCH
23		 DAY
38		 NSV POC
25		 TAL
14		 MCH
32		 BRI DAR
18		 RCH
24		 DOV
26		 MAR NWS CLT
21		 CAR
15		 ATL ONT
22		 26th 1689 [14]
1978 RSD DAY
25		 RCH
23		 CAR
14		 ATL
22		 BRI
22		 DAR
21		 NWS
27		 MAR
17		 TAL
16		 DOV
18		 CLT
24		 NSV RSD MCH
21		 DAY
15		 NSV POC
16		 TAL
20		 MCH
16		 BRI
21		 DAR
13		 RCH
24		 DOV
17		 MAR
27		 NWS
17		 CLT
31		 CAR
18		 ATL
DNQ		 ONT
17		 20th 2639 [15]
Bobby Wawak 74 Chevy ATL
31
1979 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY
DNQ		 CAR
13		 RCH
22		 ATL
21		 NWS
20		 BRI
18		 DAR
34		 MAR
16		 TAL
7		 NSV
13		 DOV
19		 CLT
20		 TWS
20		 RSD MCH
33		 DAY
27		 NSV
28		 POC
19		 TAL
36		 MCH
14		 BRI
15		 DAR
21		 RCH
24		 DOV
15		 MAR
22		 CLT
21		 NWS
27		 CAR
12		 ATL
22		 ONT
34		 18th 2795 [16]
1980 RSD DAY
20		 RCH
21		 CAR
26		 ATL
18		 BRI
17		 DAR
15		 NWS
29		 MAR
29		 TAL
16		 NSV
15		 DOV
12		 CLT
33		 TWS
25		 RSD DAY
28		 NSV
18		 POC
19		 TAL
29		 MCH
22		 BRI
13		 DAR
31		 RCH
19		 DOV
36		 NWS
20		 MAR
11		 CLT
22		 CAR
20		 ATL
15		 ONT
16		 18th 2885 [17]
Ulrich Racing 40 Chevy MCH
19
1981 Langley Racing 64 Ford RSD DAY
17		 CAR
19		 ATL
18		 BRI
15		 NWS
19		 DAR
18		 TAL
11		 NSV
17		 CLT
17		 TWS
12		 MCH
36		 DAY
19		 NSV
21		 POC
31		 TAL
18		 MCH
21		 BRI
15		 DAR
29		 RCH
17		 DOV
24		 MAR
13		 NWS
14		 CLT
22		 CAR
13		 ATL
22		 RSD
26		 15th 3140 [18]
Junior Miller 79 Olds RCH
18
Ulrich Racing 40 Buick MAR
18		 DOV
14		 RSD
30
1982 Langley Racing 64 Ford DAY
16		 RCH
21		 BRI
17		 ATL
37		 CAR
12		 DAR
11		 NWS
DNQ		 MAR TAL
16		 NSV
16		 DOV
13		 CLT
DNQ		 POC
18		 RSD
Wth		 MCH
18		 DAY
 NSV
18		 POC
23		 TAL
29		 MCH
20		 BRI
19		 DAR
25		 RCH
21		 DOV
14		 NWS
19		 CLT
36		 MAR
17		 CAR
16		 ATL
26		 RSD 21st 2698 [19]
Hylton Racing 48 Buick CLT
23
1983 Langley Racing 64 Ford DAY
27		 RCH
DNQ		 CAR
21		 ATL
23		 DAR
14		 NWS
19		 MAR
22		 TAL
13		 NSV
28		 DOV
27		 BRI
20		 CLT
35		 RSD POC
25		 MCH
26		 DAY
23		 NSV
28		 POC
24		 TAL
39		 MCH
28		 BRI
23		 DAR
29		 RCH
30		 MAR
19		 NWS
24		 CLT
31		 CAR
10		 ATL
19		 RSD 23rd 2507 [20]
Bud Reeder 02 Pontiac RCH
32		 DOV
28
1984 Langley Racing 64 Ford DAY
32		 RCH CAR
30		 ATL
24		 BRI
20		 NWS
23		 DAR
18		 MAR TAL
19		 NSV
27		 DOV
23		 CLT
25		 RSD POC
27		 MCH
33		 DAY
24		 NSV POC
36		 TAL
DNQ		 MCH BRI
11		 DAR
22		 RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL RSD 33rd 1426 [21]
1986 Langley Racing 64 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL
25		 DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD N/A 0 [22]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1970 Walt Valerio Mercury 29 31
1971 Larry Jackson Mercury 20 21
1972 Frank Vasco Mercury 26 11
1973 DNQ
1975 Langley Racing Ford 24 23
1976 DNQ
1977 DNQ
1978 38 25
1979 DNQ
1980 29 20
1981 28 17
1982 42 16
1983 25 27
1984 30 32

References

  1. ↑ Career statistics about Tommy Gale at Racing Reference
  2. ↑ Tommy Gale's NASCAR Winston Cup Series DNQ List at Racing Reference
  3. ↑ NASCAR statistics on Tommy Gale at Driver Averages
  4. ↑ Complete NASCAR career statistics on Tommy Gale at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
  5. ↑ Gale won respect... not races at The Pittsburgh Press (Google News Archive Search)
  6. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Tommy Gale – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
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