Full-Time Focus Advances Gary Glenn In Whelen All-American Series Standings

[PressRoom-GFN]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Gary Glenn’s racing career stretches back 11 years to when he first started racing Bombers at his home track, All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., and he said he had never really run for a track championship. Instead, he focused on running different venues and having fun.

“We’ve pretty much been to every track here on the West Coast,” Glenn said. “When you’re going around to different tracks, you’re out enjoying it and traveling around.”

Glenn changed his operation this season and the 27-year-old Orangeville, Calif., driver has been concentrating on the Toyota TRD Late Model Division at All American. The payoff has been immediate. Glenn has won four of the eight races at All American. Not only does he hold the points lead at the track, but he is the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series California state points leader. His victory the weekend of June 14-15 moved him up six spots to 10th in the nation.

Coleman Pressley won the June 14 Late Model race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina to increase his national-leading total to 625 points. Pressley also leads the nation with seven victories. Andy Loden of Hickory [N.C.] Motor Speedway remains second with 562 points, while Keith Rocco’s performance at the Waterford [Conn.] Speedbowl keeps him third at 557.

The Greenville-Pickens duo of David Roberts and Marty Ward are fourth and fifth, respectively.

Glenn has 406 points on the strength of four wins and nine top fives in 10 starts this season.

“There’s a lot more stress involved when you’re running for points – everything has to be perfect,” Glenn said. “I spend twice as long at the shop as I usually do, on maintenance and trying to make sure the car is perfect before it leaves. You don’t win the race at the race track. You win before you get to the track by making sure the car is kept up on everything.

“Patience is key, too. I know a lot of guys that try to win the race in the first 10 laps. If you aren’t there on lap 50 … .”

Glenn ran a handful of races at All American last year and won a couple, which he said really helped him for this season. In the off-season, he built a new car to run for the track and state championship.

“We pretty much had a baseline to start this year,” said Glenn, who works for his grandparents’ plastering company. “The car has been pretty fast right from the get-go. Our car runs really good on the outside. This track is really nice because it has two grooves. If I can get the car working really good out there, it usually runs good at the bottom.”

Glenn also added a new crew chief this year. Mario Isola, the crew chief for defending NASCAR Camping World Series West champion and current point leader Mike David, has loaned his expertise when he’s not at an event with David.

“It’s nice having him on board this year,” Glenn said. “It makes life a lot easier for me.”

Under the point structure for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, the race winner receives two points for every car in the event up to 25 cars. Second place receives two fewer points, and so-on through the field. For example, if there are 25 cars, the winner receives 50 points, second gets 48 and third 46. If there are 15 cars, the winner receives 30 points, second gets 28 and third 26. New this year are the five bonus points a driver receives for a win. The final day for the 2008 points is Sept. 14.

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