# Tommy Gale (racing driver)

Tommy Gale (September 10, 1934 – September 30, 1999) was an American 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 ($1,961,987.03 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.
His only three DNQs came at the 1972 Miller High Life 500, the 1973 Daytona 500 and at the 1984 Talladega 500.
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. His primary vehicle throughout his career was the #64 Ford machine owned by fellow NASCAR driver Elmo Langley.

## 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.

## 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1970 | Walt Valerio | 03 | Ford | RSD | DAY 15 | DAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 52nd | 271 |
| 1970 | Walt Valerio | 03 | 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 | | | | | | | | | 52nd | 271 |
| 1971 | Larry Jackson | 03 | Mercury | 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 |
| 1971 | Richard Giachetti | 44 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 41st | 729 |

#### 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 | |
| 1972 | Richard Giachetti | 44 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH DNQ | RSD | TWS | DAY | BRI | TRN | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 41st | 1298 |
| 1973 | Frank Vasko | 03 | Mercury | RSD | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 57th | N/A | |
| 1973 | Gale Racing | 03 | Mercury | | | | | | | | | | TAL 13 | NSV | CLT | DOV | TWS | RSD | | | | ATL 37 | TAL 48 | NSV | DAR 36 | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | | | | | | | 57th | N/A |
| 1973 | Gale Racing | 03 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 25 | DAY | BRI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 57th | N/A | |
| 1975 | Langley Racing | 64 | Ford | RSD | DAY 23 | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46th | 437 | |
| 1975 | Champion Racing | 10 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAY 18 | NSV | POC 28 | TAL | MCH | DAR 22 | DOV 35 | NWS | MAR | CLT | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | ONT | | 46th | 437 | |
| 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 | |
| 1976 | Henley Gray | 19 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAY 29 | NSV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 33rd | 1005 | |
| 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 | |
| 1978 | Langley Racing | 64 | Ford | 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 | |
| 1978 | Bobby Wawak | 74 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 31 | | | | 20th | 2639 | |
| 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 | |
| 1980 | Langley Racing | 64 | Ford | 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 | |
| 1980 | Ulrich Racing | 40 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2885 | |
| 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 | |
| 1981 | Junior Miller | 79 | Olds | | | RCH 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 3140 |
| 1981 | Ulrich Racing | 40 | Buick | | | | | | | | | MAR 18 | | | DOV 14 | | | RSD 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15th | 3140 |
| 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 | |
| 1982 | Hylton Racing | 48 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21st | 2698 |
| 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 | |
| 1983 | Bud Reeder | 02 | Pontiac | | RCH 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23rd | 2507 |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |

##### 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 | Frank Vasco | Mercury | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1975 | Langley Racing | Ford | 24 | 23 |
| 1976 | Langley Racing | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1977 | Langley Racing | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1978 | Langley Racing | Ford | 38 | 25 |
| 1979 | Langley Racing | Ford | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1980 | Langley Racing | Ford | 29 | 20 |
| 1981 | Langley Racing | Ford | 28 | 17 |
| 1982 | Langley Racing | Ford | 42 | 16 |
| 1983 | Langley Racing | Ford | 25 | 27 |
| 1984 | Langley Racing | Ford | 30 | 32 |