COLUMN: Salem native Gallion reflects on winning go-kart, stock-car racing career

In the spring of 1969, the graduation class from Salem High School went in several different directions. Some would head to work in the local factories and mills. Some would join the Armed Services and head to Vietnam. And others would head off to college.

Dennis Gallion went to work the next day for his brother-in-law. While I’m sure other graduates went to work for family members, I can guarantee you that no other family business involved racing on the NASCAR Cup circuit, acting, and doing stunt work for Hollywood films.

Dennis was one of 14 children born and raised in Burke County. His older sister, Jean, married racer and stunt driver Neil “Soapy” Castles in 1956.

Castles was born in Marion in 1934 and began his racing career in the early 1950s. He earned his nickname after competing in the Soap Box Derby as a teenager.

Over the next two years, Dennis would be a part of Soapy’s traveling circus. He would spend days in the racing shop in Charlotte doing whatever task was asked of him, from working on the race car to sweeping the shop floor. They traveled across the country, racing against the likes of Richard Petty and David Pearson. Other days, they provided and prepared cars and stunt drivers for Hollywood movies.

Dennis took a job with Duke Power after getting married to his high school sweetheart. In 1971 they decided to move back to Burke County to start a family. The racing bug bit Dennis in ’72, when he started go-kart racing at the Gamewell Optimist track in Lenoir. Dennis raced and won go-kart races at several local tracks.

He eventually began driving for Boone resident Johnny Hampton. Their most successful season was in 1978 when the pair won the North and South Carolina state championships plus the WKA national championship.

“We raced with some great drivers,” Gallion said. “NASCAR Cup series winner Lake Speed. Scott Pruett, who won the 24 Hours of LeMans and won championships in multiple series. Mark Dismore, who raced in nine Indianapolis 500s and won races in several different disciplines of racing. They all raced against us. Pretty neat for a kid from Salem to come out on top.”

In the early ’80s, Gallion teamed with engine builder Tom Watson and owner Jim Miller to chase another WKA championship. The trio of locals won the national championship in 1985. Miller then decided to move the team to full-body stock cars for the ’86 season.

“I struggled when we started racing late models,” Gallion said. “It was a big jump, and we didn’t know about tires and sit-ups. My biggest regrets from those days was not taking help that was offered. Dennis Setzer and Robert Pressley both were willing to teach me, but I was determined to do it my way.”

Gallion’s stock car career may have gotten off to a slow start, but by 1990, he was one of the top drivers at Hickory Motor Speedway. He started 16 races in the Limited Sportsman division that season, nabbing 10 poles, 12 wins, and three second-place finishes in a dominant year as he won his first NASCAR-sanctioned points championship.

In 1995, Gallion was somehow even better. He started 46 races between Hickory and Tri-County Speedway, taking 28 poles and 31 victories — 13 at Hickory and 18 at Tri-County.

“I remember when JD Gibbs was racing at Tri-County,” Gallion recalled. “I talked to his dad, Joe Gibbs, NASCAR and NFL Hall of Fame member, on several occasions that season. He was always polite and engaging to all of us.

“But one night JD wrecked me, so the next week, I got even and wrecked JD. As we were loading up, Joe Gibbs came to our trailer and threw the front bumper off JD’s car towards us. He was mad and never spoke to me again,” Gallion finished his story, breaking into a grin.

These days, Gallion moves at a slower pace. He retired from Duke Power in 2010 after 40 years on the job.

He would rather spend his weekends with his wife, kids, and grandkids than on a racetrack. He is active in his church and community, but he still loves racing. He credits Jim Miller, Tom Watson, and Johnny Price for giving him the opportunity to drive their race cars.

Gallion is certainly one of several local men and women that have made an impact on motorsports. If you bump into him around town, ask him about going fast and turning left.

Hopefully you have enjoyed the banter, and see you next time on the Pit Box.