Turner Motorsports hires Cale Gale as development series crew chief

According to a press release from Turner Motorsports, Cale Gale has joined the team to serve as the crew chief for 15-year-old developmental driver Brandon Jones in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East division.

Gale’s move to the pit box effectively ends his full-time driving career but will allow the 27-year-old the opportunity to extend his tenure in NASCAR. Gale still plans to compete in the occasional Late Model race but will place most of his efforts moving forward towards guiding Jones' Pro Series operation.

Gale becomes the latest casualty of the sport’s reliance on sponsorship money but his diverse talent as both a driver and a mechanic has led to other opportunities to remain in NASCAR. Gale first honed his skills as a mechanic while working on his father’s Late Model cars while also competing in local classes near his hometown of Mobile, Ala.

After competing part-time in the NASCAR Truck Series and Nationwide Series for Kevin Harvick Inc., from 2006-2008, Gale took time off from driving to serve as a shock specialist and race day engineer for Turner Motorsports. So the move back to Turner is essentially a homecoming of sorts.

Despite winning the final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the season, Gale was more sought-after as a crew chief than as a driver. He has plenty of experience as a crew chief, serving as Ty Dillon’s first mentor and crew chief in the ARCA Racing Series.

He has served a similar role for Jones’ Super Late Model team this season and Turner hopes to replicate that sort of chemistry in the Pro Series East.

“Coming to Turner Motorsports was a great opportunity for me and I look forward to working more closely with Brandon in the Pro Series East,” Gale said. “I’ve worked with him the last couple of years on honing his skills and I’ve seen him come a long way in short time period. I think he has the talent necessary to be successful in his racing career.”

Gale made his full-time return behind the wheel for Eddie Sharp Racing this season and quickly picked up a win for the team in the ARCA Racing Series at his home track, Mobile International Speedway. The highlight of his season was his thrilling door-to-door duel with Kyle Busch at Homestead and as a result, Gale can enter his new role with the credentials of a NASCAR winner.

Gale finished his rookie NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season with one win, three top-5s and eight top-10s. He finished 12th in the season standings.

Jones will split time between NASCAR and the Super Late Model ranks. His current schedule plans for two Truck Series races, seven Pro Series East races and the full Pro Cup Series schedule.