Dave Gentile, Jr

Dave Gentile Jr. was born January 5, 1977 in Joliet, Illinois. He currently resides in Elwood, Illinois where he is employed through a local union as a heavy equipment operator. Dave has been around the racetrack his whole life with his father, Dave Gentile Sr. and uncle, Mike Gentile, who both raced stock cars at many tracks in the Midwest. Dave has grown up watching in the garage and on the racetrack since he was 2 years old.

 

Car number 2 has been special to the Gentile Racing Team because it was chosen to signify the age of Dave Jr. when Dave Sr. started racing. This number was used by all Gentile Racing Team cars. However, with ASA Late Model Series rules, there cannot be duplicate numbers and the current Gentile Racing Team ASA Late Model Series cars will carry the number 6.

 

Growing up in the garage and at the racetrack helped Dave Jr. gain an extreme amount of knowledge about cars. Before he even turned 16, a plan was in the works to get him into a race car. After his 16th birthday, they already had a car put together for the upcoming season at Grundy County Speedway. This was a good learning process for Dave Jr. He competed in most of the races that season and faired well against some stiff competition for a kid his age.

 

After his first season, Dave caught some interest in Drag Racing and decided to put stock cars on hold for awhile and race competitively at the Drag Strip. With the help of his family, Dave built a ‘69 Camaro that ran 8 seconds in the quarter mile. He raced locally at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet and also traveled throughout the Midwest to different drag strips. Also during that time, Dave obtained his NHRA competition license. This allowed him to compete at NHRA certified tracks. Drag racing experience was instrumental in gaining better knowledge of chassis set-ups and valuable seat time that helped gain driving and set-up skills, a lot of what helps in stock cars.

 

In 2000, it was decided to make a very concertrated effort into stock car racing again. The Gentile Racing Team put together a street stock division car for the 2001 season. In 2001, he finished third in points at Grundy County Speedway. In 2002, Dave moved up to Mid-America Class, a highly competitive class, and was named “Rookie of the Year” and finished second in points at Illiana Motor Speedway and eighth in points at Grundy County Speedway merely missing Rookie of the Year by 8 points. In 2003, Dave competed at seven different tracks, gaining the experience and knowledge of what it will take to compete at a higher level. All in all the season was very successful. Dave had seventeen out of twenty top ten finishes including eight top tens at Illiana Motor Speedway alone.

 

Dave Jr. had a very successful 2004 season finishing off as Grundy County Speedway Mid-American Track Champion and finishing 2nd in points at Illiana Motor Speedway. He won a total of 4 feature wins, 28 top 10 finishes, 20 top 5 finishes, and 12 fast times.

 

Dave Jr. refuses to lose. He sets his goals high and works hard to obtain them with the help of his family, friends, and sponsors.

 

Since bursting back into circle track racing in 2001, Dave has never finished outside the top ten in points. His accomplishments include a championship, finishing second in points twice, and a third place finish in points. Dave captured Rookie of the Year honors at both Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, IN. in 2002 and Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI. in 2005. Dave also received the Sportsman of the Year award for his outstanding showmanship at Madison in 2005. In the following pages you will see Dave’s career stats and see for yourself: Dave is driven to succeed!

 

2007 saw all sorts of ups and downs for Dave. The season started out good with an 11th place finish at O’Reilly Raceway Park and got even better with 3 straight top 5 finishes to excel Dave into the ASA Late Model Northern Division overall points lead as well as the Rookie of the Year points lead. But his luck would dwindle away as the season progressed. A broken rear end, a broken toggle switch, and a hard wreck at the high banks of I 70 speedway in Odessa,MO would shatter his high hopes of a Rookie winning the championship. In the process though Dave opened the eyes of many, and is considered an early favorite for the 2008 Title.

 

Dave Jr. represents all in a partnership for anyone wanting to reflect a positive image. Dave has gained a lot of respect from his sponsors and other drivers; he is professional, trustworthy, hard working, and very goal driven.

Personal

Birthday: 01/05/1977
Hometown: Elwood, Illinois
Height/Weight: 5'10, 145 lbs.
Family: Fiance-Ashley No Children
Occupation: Heavy Equipment Operator
Hobbies: Golfing, Building Race Cars

 

Accomplishments in Racing: 2002 Mid-Am Rookie of the Year and Second in points at Illiana (IN) Motor Speedway. 2004 Grundy County (IL) Speedway Mid-Am Track Champion and Second in points at Illiana. 2005 Madison (WI) International Speedway ASA Late model Division Rookie of the Year.
 
2006 Two (2) Top Five’s in Five (5) starts in the ASALMS Northern Division, 2007 Finished Ninth in ASALMS Northern Division with Three (3) Top Five’s and 2007 Grundy County Speedway Super Late Model Rookie of the Year.
Heroes: Alan Kulwicki
Dream Car: Corvette
Accomplishments in Life: Racing is my life

 

Favorite Part About Race Day: Being on the top of the practice and qualifying time sheets
Most Noticeable Trait: smile
Pet Peeves: Fake people
Something I’d Like to Change About Myself: I am happy with who I am
If I Wasn’t Racing, I’d be: Golfing
Best Part About Being Me: Sense of Humor
Qualities I Admire in Another Person: Confidence and the Will to succeed

 

Favorite Foods: Italian
Favorite Restaurants: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Favorite Movies: Wedding Crashers
Favorite TV Shows: Prison Break, Rules of Engagement, The Office
Favorite Music: Rock
Favorite Musician: Nickelback, Bon Jovi