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2014 Championship Fight
Laguna Seca 2012
Nick Galante Wins Race #7 in the Red Line Oil Karting Championship.
Sonoma CA – 10/12/2011 A cool and foggy morning greeted the racers for Round 7 of the Red Line Oil Karting Championship, but by 11:00 am the fog burned off and a warm sunny afternoon made for some great racing at the simraceway International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway. The demanding Reverse Sprint track configuration had lots of grip which challenged the drivers to get the best setup balance and made for some tight racing in several of the classes.
125 Shifters - S4
Jim Inglebright, Nick Galante and David Arnstein Were the top 3 qualifiers in the S4 Championship Class. In the first heat, Galante was challenging Inglebright. Galante attempted a pass going into tic-tac- toe which resulted in Inglebright spinning and Arnstein getting by to take over second. Galante then made a pass attempt on Arnstein that resulted in some contact. Galante retired early after being black flagged. In the second heat, things settled down with Inglebright taking the early lead followed by Galante. Inglebright held off Galante to take the win with Arnstein in third and Shaffer in fourth. In the main, Arnstein was on the pole with Inglebright alongside. At the green flag, Arnstein lead the field into turn one. Inglebright stalled his kart and had to get a push to get going, well behind the pack. Arnstein held the lead with Shaffer, Galante and Inglebright. With Inglebright way behind, Galante then took
his time setting up a good pass on Arnstein. Galante made his move and got by Arnstein cleanly to take the lead for first. This win made it Nick Galante's third win in the Championship. Be sure to watch the last race of the season on Nov 6th at Infineon Raceway at Sears Point.
New Nick Galante Ford Racing Article
Dream Weaver
Galante chases his dream in a Mustang Boss 302R
Dearborn, Mich. — Nick Galante always dreamed of driving race cars for a living, but as anyone who has tried it knows, it's never easy.
It takes talent. Check.
Determination. Check.
Money. Umm, hold everything.
Skill and determination can take you a long way in life, but sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it's all about the Benjamins.
In his mid 20s and still in his native state of Massachusetts in 2005, Galante knew if he was going to make a run at a career in racing, he'd need to make a move. A big move. He was comfortably employed in the golf industry, but golf is not racing. "I knew I had to move to California," he said. "I knew I could live in the golf business in California but also get a foot in the door to race." For work, he targeted the exclusive Pebble Beach Golf Club because it was near historic Laguna Seca race course. He got the job.
In terms of his racing aspirations, Galante caught a break one day when he was at Laguna Seca and a friend offered to let him drive a Shifterkart. Overcoming his skepticism, he discovered quickly the 125cc kart was no kid's toy. He found himself topping 100mph and enjoying the ride. So much so he bought a kart in short order.
Turns out he was pretty good at driving it, too.
So now the racing side of his life was taking shape—it's a start—but there was still that issue about money. But Galante's need to work led him to his next break. While caddying at Pebble Beach one day, he had the good fortune to be paired with one Philip Frengs. Frengs, it turned out, was a fan of racing with some past associations with the likes of Al Unser Jr. and others. And Frengs loved racing and the business side of it.
Hello opportunity, meet Nick Galante.
"Nick and I met at Pebble Beach," said Frengs. "He happened to be a caddy and happened to be on my bag that day. We started talking about things and he told me he was an aspiring racer. To make a long story short, he was a good enough salesman that I decided sponsoring him would be a good opportunity for my company."
Frengs is president and CEO of The Copi Companies, a Los Angeles-based company that offers a range of copying and duplicating services primarily to major law firms. "Copi Companies specializes in assisting major law firms with two things," Frengs explained. "One division operates and manages copy centers and mail rooms for the big firms in their offices. We equip them, staff and operate them. Our Copy Solutions division handles the document production associated with litigation. Large, complex litigation generates a lot of documentation. We handle that."
So it went that Frengs felt his company could grow with the racing career of Galante. With The Copi Companies on board, Galante entered the Jim Russell Series where he progressed in a Formula car to winning his age bracket and finishing second overall. He knew it was time for the next step.
"While in the Formula car I knew I wanted to get into sports cars and endurance racing," Galante said. "If I was going to ever get into a prototype car, the Grand-Am ladder was the perfect way to go." Enter Jon Mirachi and the Racers Edge race team.
Galante, along with Phil Frengs and his sponsorship support, put together a three-race deal late in the 2011 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season with Mirachi. Galante got the chance to drive the team's 2011 Boss 302R for the final three races of the season, competing in the GS class.
While the finishes were not spectacular—20th, 11th, 31st—the experience was priceless. "I was able to produce some results," explained Galante, "even though there were some situations in the races where there were obstacles." Some of the obstacles, he said, were things like trying to sort out handling and other issues that normally take time. Something the team did not have plenty of with only a three-race deal.
"I think I drove pretty well considering the challenge," Galante said. "I fell in love with that Mustang. I never smiled more in a car than the first time I drove the Mustang. It's such a blast, so much fun to drive. Especially in the Grand-Am series."
Both Galante and team owner John Mirachi are still considering the possibilities for 2012, but nothing is set just yet. "My heart says to do a full season somewhere," says Galante. "This is the kind of car you have to have. The Mustang has proven to be the best car in the CTSCC series. Because of its handling and power, it's the best all-around car in Grand-Am.
"The BMWs have great handling and brakes, but the power is not there. The Camaros have great power but not so good in the back section. The Mustang is the best all-around," Galante explained. "I hope we can put something together."
For the near future, Galante continues to work in racing with Cameron Motorsports in California and races Shifterkarts professionally. But he hopes to find the next big opportunity to follow his dream, hopefully, with the continued support with his friend Phil Frengs. For his part, Frengs would like to keep the dream alive as well.
"It's kind of up to Nick and where he wants to be, and in what series he wants to be in," said Frengs. "I like Jon [Mirachi] very much and it's been very cool to race with Ford these few races. Maybe we can build a bigger team. I joke that about the only difference between me and Roger Penske is about $5 billion!," Frengs says with a hearty laugh. "We're the same guy."
You might as well dream big.
Nick Galante Successfully Completes Two Races In The GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
After two of the last three rounds, Nick Galante looks forward to the season finale at the famous Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Nick's GRAND-AM season started out at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca on July 9th.
Right away Nick was posting competitive lap times for his inaugural race in the series. The COPi Companies Racers Edge Mustang Boss 302R was battling some overheating issues all weekend and still was able to run in the top 10. Nick and his teammate Scott Panzer nursed the temp sensitive car home for a hard earned 20th
place finish.
For the next race on the calendar, the team headed to Millville, New Jersey on July 23rd . Nick again, was getting faster with every valuable session in the car. Armed with a great new teammate, Robbie Pecorari, also making the switch from Formula cars to Sportscars.
The overheating issues were worked out by the great RACERS EDGE crew and team technicians and the car was ready for battle in the intense record breaking heat of the New Jersey Motorsports Park.
During the race Nick smoothly worked his way from 18th to 11th and handed the unscathed car over to teammate Pecorari. Pecorari drove a great stint, battling with some of the best in the series.
Late in the race the team chose a great fuel strategy and needed just one more expected yellow flag caution period to solidify finishing the race with enough fuel. The caution came with only 15 minutes remaining, It looked as if the COPi Companies Mustang was going to move on up to the the top 5, due to the other leaders having to pit for more fuel. But unfortunately 2 more yellow flag caution periods made it unnecessary for the leaders to pit. The race ended under caution and the COPi Companies Mustang was brought home in 11th.
Nick is confident and looking forward to the next race in Lexington, Ohio at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. If you can't make it out to the race, be sure to watch on the SPEED channel on Sept 25th 12:00pm Eastern.
Nick Galante Closes the Season Point Gap in the Skusa ProKart Challenge Round 3 In Reno.
May 28th 2011:
The SKUSA ProKart Challenge headed to chilly Reno NV for round three of the 6 race series. Snow began falling throughout the day and Nick Galante was the driver to beat after topping the charts in qualifying in the S4 class with a 48.735-lap. Jim Kidd was second, with round one winner Casey Scherer third, all within a tenth of each other. Galante walked away in both heat races and scored two wins. Galante was showing that the others would have to step up their game to contend in the Main event. On lap two, Kidd and Todd Thompson worked by for position ahead of Galante, after a couple of mistakes and appeared to be off-pace from the previous sessions. In the end, Kidd took the victory with Galante placing second and Thompson third. David Arnstein retired after lap one, and Scherer was involved in a wreck in the first start attempt that put him on his head, thankfully able to walk away.
Nick Galante Wins Two-In-A Row in The Redline Oil Karting Championship
After two of the 10 races in the REDLINE OIL Karting Championship Nick Galante comes away as a force yet to be challenged in S4. After winning the first two opening rounds of the series Nick is looking to challenge for the season championship.
Saturday practice saw the track temperatures climb along with the track grip level. These were a sign of some great racing to come Sunday morning.
Qualifying for the S4 125Stock Moto Shifter class saw the competitors strapping on new tires for the session. Galante would try to brave the weekend on used tires. Consistently quick Brad Schaffer walked away with yet another pole position with a time of 48.679. Nick Galante qualifying 2nd with a 49.498. David Preece rounding the top three with a 50.686 on the challenging Sprint track configuration of the Jim Russell International Karting Center.
Heat Race 1 of the day saw Brad Shaffer getting the holeshot into turn one and took off like a rocket. Galante following trying to keep up and figure out the tight track configuration. Preece in third, following close behind. The 8 lap heat race would finish in the same order.
Heat Race 2 proved to be a bit more interesting. Schaffer would get the holeshot again into turn one. Galante had to check up his great start to avoid a slower starting competitor ahead.
With the tires of Schaffer wearing off their new grip Galante was able to catch up to Schaffer and challenge for first. Nose to tail they would complete the last 4 laps. Galante looking for a way by, trying to catch a mistake from Schaffer. Schaffer would prove to be unflappable. Schaffer taking another win, Galante 2nd, Preece 3rd.
The Main Event Headliner Race was looking to be a great show. Galante and Schaffer would start the race side by side in a drag race into turn one. Galante finding a way through on the inside would emerge in first place on lap one. Schaffer following close behind, eager to make his hard work in the heat races pay off. As the race went on Galante's tires were showing huge signs of distress. Galante desperately trying to fix the ailing tires tried to dial in some better brake bias heading into the fast sweeper of turn 4. Galante went wide and Schaffer saw a chance and challenged into turn 5. Galante barely hung on and kept the lead. It looked as if Galante finally found a way to keep the ailing tires at bay and closed the race in better shape, taking home the win and making it 2 in a row for the new emerging racer. Schaffer finishing close behind in a hard fought 2nd. David Preece battling hard and rounding out the top three.
Look for the next race of the RED LINE OIL Karting Championship to be held June 12 at the Jim Russell International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway Sears Point in Sonoma California
Nick Galante Offered Exclusive Drive In The 2011 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
4-10-2011
Nick Galante has been selected to drive with one of the top teams in the industry, RACERS EDGE. Nick is scheduled to race in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in the new Mustang Boss 302R, starting at Laguna Seca in Monterey California on July 8-9.
Then on to the new and challenging New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ(July 22-23)
Finally finishing up the season finale at the ever famous Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH on Sept, 16-17.
"I'm looking forward to running in the Continental Tire Series in these races. It's going to be the perfect prelude to the 2012 season. I feel that this opportunity is the perfect chance to produce some good finishes and launch my career into a great future. The combination of the RACERS EDGE team and their history of success, the proven performance of the Ford Mustang BOSS 302R this season, and my determination to win is going to be a outstanding force in this series"
This great opportunity is almost complete. The COPi Solutions Company has joined Nick Galante Racing and the Racers Edge Team in a great partnership. The Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series is one of the top Sports Car racing series in the world. All of the races will be televised to millions on the spectacular SPEED channel. Nick Galante Racing is currently seeking the last additional partners to join this wonderful opportunity. The Grand-Am Continental Series is on the forefront of the world stage.
Watch On SPEED
- The Laguna Seca Race airs on SPEED, July 17, 1:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 AM Pacific
- New Jersey airs on SPEED, July 30, 3:00 PM Eastern / 12:00 PM Pacific
- Mid Ohio airs on SPEED, Sept 25, 12:00 PM Eastern / 9:00 AM Pacific
Advertising space is still available on:
- Race Car
- Drivers Suit
- Drivers Helmet
- Team and Crew Uniforms
Feel free to contact Nick Galante Racing at nickgalanteracing@hotmail.com
or Call 831-402-6055
For more info about the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series Click here:
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