Rheem Returns Cale Gale to NASCAR in Camping World Truck Series.
2011-02-04
Rheem Continues Support of Driver Who Debuted at Daytona In KHI’s Nationwide Rheem Chevrolet and Won Pole at Bristol
ATLANTA, February 4, 2011 – Rheem Manufacturing Company has announced that it will continue its long-time support of driver Cale Gale through a primary sponsorship of Gale in six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. Gale will drive the No. 2 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet Silverado in the races.
Rheem entered NASCAR as an associate sponsor in 2007 and stepped up as a primary NASCAR Nationwide Series sponsor of KHI’s No. 33 Chevrolet in 2008 with Gale driving the company’s first Nationwide race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The Rheem Racing program now includes sponsorship of NASCAR’s Canadian Tire Series, Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series.
The 25-year-old Gale, named after legendary NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough, racked up an average starting position of 6.8 in six Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Series starts, an even more impressive finishing position average of 3.5 and scored his first win in 2006. He made a combined 27 NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series starts from 2006 to 2008 for KHI. Gale’s 11th Nationwide Series start was in the now-familiar black and red Rheem Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway in 2008. That same year, Gale won the pole in the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway finishing fourth.
One of the many driver casualties of the recession, Gale went on to drive for Rheem in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2009 along with competing in super late models throughout the southeastern United States. In 2010, the former Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway super-stock and late-model champion, made his debut as a crew chief in the ARCA Racing Series for Richard Childress Racing as well as working as a shock specialist and race-day engineer for Turner Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“There are many, many things Rheem likes about Cale Gale, including his driving ability and rich driving heritage. But, what Rheem most appreciates about Cale is his tenacity, dedication and sincere commitment to achieving excellence at the highest levels of professional stock car racing,” said JR Jones, Rheem CEO and President.
In addition to putting Gale in the seat of six Camping World Truck Series races this season, Rheem is also the primary sponsor of Gale’s No. 83 Rheem Chevrolet Super Late Model car. Recently, Gale put the Rheem No. 83 on the pole at Pensacola’s famed Snowball Derby while setting a new track qualifying record of 16:33.
The lack of sponsors at every level of racing due to the economy has threatened to discourage talented young drivers to pursue their dreams as well as to reduce the ability of NASCAR’s leading racing teams to invest in driver development. Ed Raniszeski, Rheem Corporate Director of Marketing who is responsible for the Rheem Racing program said, “Racing is an important part of our marketing program. The Rheem Way is to focus on excellence at every level of the process; it is difficult to achieve or sustain quality without investing at each step of product development and customer satisfaction. That belief is at the core of the Rheem culture, so it is natural for Rheem to be involved from the highest to the most fundamental levels of racing. It is good for our company and our brands to help support the future quality of racing.”
In 2011, Gale takes another step on the journey he began with his father and racing coach, Bubba Gale, at age four. Before the racing season closes at Pensacola’s Snowball Derby, Gale will have racked up more high quality seat time than at any time in his career. “I am so thankful to Rheem for stepping up to support and believe in me. It is an opportunity of a lifetime; I am looking forward to being back behind the wheel at the NASCAR level representing my great sponsor Rheem as well as being back with KHI,” said Gale.
Rheem Manufacturing Company (www.rheem.com) is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of high-quality residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar, and heat pump water heaters; swimming pool heaters and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands including Raypak, Ruud and Rheem have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Kevin Harvick, Inc. and is the primary sponsor of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series “Driver of the Decade,” Kevin Harvick and his No.33 car.
