GALANTE PUTS IN ANOTHER STUNNING DRIVE AT MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA IN THE GRAND AM CONTINENTAL TIRE SPORTS CAR CHALLENGE

September 2013

Looking to improve on last year’s 8th place finish, Nick set off on the track eager and determined to shake off the rust of having not driven all year.  Driving again for Racers Edge Motorsports in the #05 COPi Companies Mustang Boss 302R it was only a matter of time before Galante was laying down laps amongst some of the top pros in the field. Due to a setback in the handling characteristics of the car, Nick’s teammate, Patrick Linn, was only able to qualify the car in 20th place out of the 54 cars in the field.

At the start of the race, Nick’s co-driver was able to stay on the lead lap through several caution periods. 45 minutes into the race, the team recognized the opportunity for Linn to hand the car off to Galante. With a lot of ground to make up, Nick instantly started moving through the field, working his way up to 10th place. Averting the many incidents throughout the race, Nick was able to continue his push to the front. After a brilliantly timed pit stop for tires and fuel, Galante came back out in 13th place—an ideal position considering the lead cars had not yet come in for their final pit-stops.

As the caution periods continued, and the clock ticked down to the end of the race, Galante had plenty of fuel and tires to bring the fight to the end. There was a three-lap race to the checkered flag. A late, aggressive attempt on Galante in the high-speed turn 6 from one of the Nissan 370Zs put Galante into the gravel. Nick kept his foot in it and wrestled the car back onto the track. He continued with some ground to make up and worked his way back through the field, ultimately finishing in 7th place.

Again, Galante delivers the team’s best finish of the season, despite it being his first race of the year. His continued improvement is extraordinary considering the rare amount of seat time Nick gets in the car. 

Nick is eager to finally put in a full season in 2014 to contend for the season championship, and remains hopeful for additional sponsors to make that a reality.

​Missed it? Watch the race on FOX Sports 1 on Sunday, September 15th at 4:00 PM eastern time.