Our Drivers

Chandler Gallman

A Legacy of Speed and Passion

Born into the exhilarating world of motorsports, Chandler Gallman was destined to follow in the tire tracks of his father, John Gallman, and his legendary grandfather, Jerry Rector, a celebrated racer of the 80s and 90s. Growing up amidst the roar of engines and the scent of burnt rubber, Chandler’s childhood was a blend of ordinary life and extraordinary racing experiences. His family's garage was a sanctuary of engineering marvels, where stories of triumph and teachable moments from races past were shared over wrenches and gauges.

Chandler’s journey in racing began almost as soon as he could walk. At age five, he received his first go-kart, a gift from his father who saw a glimmer of his own passion in his young son's eyes. Weekends were spent at local tracks, where Chandler honed his skills under his father and Grampi’s watchful eyes. Jerry and John’s coaching went beyond the mechanics of racing; they instilled in Chandler the values of perseverance, sportsmanship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

He was a force to be reckoned with in the karting community. His natural talent, combined with rigorous training, saw him clinch numerous wins across the state of South Carolina and Georgia and a local championship. His achievement in the karting world is what made John and Jerry know that Chandler was ready for more. John drug out Jerry’s old mail car and Chandler began tearing it apart. Every day after school, Chandler would be at the race shop tearing parts off the old car. In just 6 months, the car was ready for its debut race.

Chandler transitioned from karting to professional racing in 2023, he was eleven years old. His debut season was nothing short of spectacular, with multiple Top 5 finishes and 4 race wins under his belt. Despite the fierce competition, Chandler’s consistency and strategic mindset set him apart. His racing style was a blend of calculated aggression and precision, reminiscent of his grandfather’s glory days on the track. His parents John and Josie saw the potential for Chandler to make it to a level that they were not able to and started to build a brand for Chandler. In hopes of getting bigger sponsors and more people to see Chandler’s potential so he could live his dream of becoming a professional driver. The CWG Racing brand was born.

Mid way through that first season, Chandler was already thinking about his next move. The move from Pure Stock to Limited Late Model. Although his grandfather had hesitated about the transition happening so quickly, he made a deal with Chandler. “Start practicing this year and when your lap times are fast enough to keep up, you can race limited”. Boy was Chandler up for that challenge. It did not take long and before Chandler was matching lap times with the top 5 competitors, at the local track. Jerry gave Chandler the oldest car in the shop and told him to make it fast. Chandler practiced throughout the rest of that season and prepared for the 2024 season. He would be starting his Limited Late model career with the same series his father, John, did. The Southeast Limited Late Models, a traveling series that went all over the southeast racing at different tracks.

The 2024 season did not go as planned. What was thought to be an easy introduction to the Limited Late model class, ended up being a wild ride. What should have been 12 races quickly grew to 24, Chandler was a force to be reckoned with. In just the second race of the season, in the hills of Virgina at the iconic Lonesome Pine Motorsports Park, Chandler surprised the whole series by not only winning that race he led 73 out of 75 laps. Crossing the finish line with just a .006 second lead on his competitor Chase Pollard, the relative of Harry Gant. It was a full circle moment for these two race families as Jerry and Harry raced many times against each other. Chandler was the buzz of the town, and everyone took notice of the young driver. The rest of the season was just as exciting as the team travelled to 5 different tracks. As the season ended Chandler walked away Rookie of the year, 2nd in the points championship with 16 top 10 finishes, 7 top fives and the one glorious win at Lonesome Pine.

The challenge of upholding the legacy of his father and grandfather was substantial, as the racing industry imposes significant technical and physical demands. Nevertheless, Chandler demonstrated remarkable resilience. He approached every setback with unwavering determination, whether it involved a technical malfunction, a difficult race, or a formidable opponent.

For Chandler, racing is more than just a sport; it's a way of life. He often speaks about the "racing mindset," a philosophy that encompasses discipline, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. He credits his success with the lessons imparted by his father, grandfather and Lenny and the supportive network of family and fans who have stood by him through thick and thin.

Chandler, at the age of 14, is beginning his career in racing and making a name for himself within the community, continuing his family's legacy. Outside of racing, Chandler is an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with family and friends, and is currently restoring a 1984 Chevy square body truck.

John Gallman

John has lived a life deeply rooted in the world of racing. Growing up with his stepfather, Jerry Rector, who was a skilled race car driver, John was naturally drawn to the sport and quickly made a name for himself on the racing circuit. Jerry and his good friend and racing partner Lenny helped get John started in his racing career in go-karts. John was 14 years old when he started but he was no stranger to racing. He had spent many years before that at the track helping Jerry and Lenny with Jerry’s race car. John spent time with Jerry and Lenny in the race shop learning all he could about racing and working on cars. John was always a curious child and Read More

wanted to know how things worked. He was a sponge around the shop, always tinkering with something, from modifying his bicycle to building and jumping ramps. John was a fearless child. John raced go karts all over the Upstate in South Carolina, but Possum Kingdom Super Speedway was always his favorite. He won the Championship at that track in 2004. At that time, Jerry and Lenny had retired from the Hooters Pro Cup and were racing Legend cars at Anderson Motor Speedway. It wasn’t long before John wanted to move to a different racing class, and he purchased a BM Modified to run at Anderson Motor Speedway. John spent the’05 and ‘06 seasons racing in this class and had numerous Top three finishes. At the end of the ’06 season he moved classes again and bought a legend car. John and Jerry spent the ’07 and ’08 seasons racing against each other, winning race after race and creating memories that will be passed down for generations. John was supporting his racing addiction by working at local machine shops. John was quickly becoming a master machinist. Using his love of creating and learning paired with the strong work ethic instilled in him by Jerry, he learned everything he could about running manual milling machines and lathes. He watched closely as his mentors shared with him all the tricks of the trade. John knew he wanted to own his own machine shop one day. In 2008 John and Jerry both won the Championship in the Legend cars. John won the Semi Pro division and Jerry the master’s division. They went out on a high note and decided to take a break from racing and turn their attention to another passion, Hot Rods. The racing trio of John, Jerry and Lenny built 7 Classic cars in their off years from racing. John pursued his goal of owning a business by setting up a corner in the race shop with a used mill and Lathe to make race car and hot rod parts. While establishing his business, he also started his family, and his son Chandler was born in 2011. In 2015, John filed the necessary paperwork for his LLC, creating JW Machine & Fab. In 2016, John met Josie, who would become his wife, and together they brought John's vision of his very own machine shop to life. Additionally, that same year, John resumed racing, the trio purchased a Limited Late Model and joined a traveling series called The Southeast Limited Lates Models. The series travels all over the southeast racing. John's racing career was marked by numerous victories and accolades, fueling his ambition and determination. His precision on the track, combined with his ability to push the limits, has earned him a loyal fan base and the respect of his peers. Winning Rookie of the Year in 2016 and finishing 2nd and 3rd in the points in the years that followed. John transitioned into family life, he instilled the same love for racing in his son, who has now followed in his footsteps and become a race car driver himself. This family tradition of racing has become a source of pride and continuity, weaving their shared passion through generations. John’s small business has flourished under his leadership. JW Machine has won awards on its own, being named the #1 Machine Shop in Fountain Inn SC. His ability to juggle the high-speed demands of racing while nurturing a thriving business and a close-knit family showcases his remarkable dedication and resilience. Through every challenge, John Gallman remains a testament to the enduring spirit of racing and the bonds it creates within a family. John, much like his dad Jerry is taking a step back from racing full time, to allow more focus on his son Chandler and his racing career.

Jerry Dean Rector

“The Hillside Hustler”

A journey of speed, passion, and determination

Born with a natural inclination for speed and adventure, Jerry’s journey into the world of racing is one filled with passion and determination. From a young age, he was fascinated by the roar of engines and the thrill of racing.

Jerry Dean Rector was born in 1953 to Bob and Mamie Rector. He was raised in Reidsville, NC, and relocated to Fountain Inn, SC, in 1966. Jerry's parents owned Rector Lumber Company, where he and his two brothers worked with their father. L.A. Rector, Jerry’s grandfather, Read More

first introduced Jerry and his brother to racing when L.A. leased Rainbow Speedway in Reidsville, NC, in the early 60s. He was a lifelong race fan himself and after a few seasons of leasing a track he decided he would rather be on the track himself.

One Friday night, L.A. went to a race and bought the winning car. The car was the #8. The previous owner wanted to keep the number, so L.A.'s sister painted a 1 next to it, creating the iconic #81. Jerry recalls spending time at Rainbow Speedway with his brother Randy, riding the water truck while their dad Bob prepped the track. Their mom didn't let them attend race nights due to the "rough crowd.” His first experience with racing cars came in his teenage years, when he and Ronney Pedan joined a couple of local neighborhood kids, and they started building and racing go-karts. It was here that he honed his skills and developed an understanding of the mechanics and strategies of racing.

His natural talent was evident. It did not take long for people to take notice of Jerry. He was just shy of 18 years old when Jerry caught the attention of Rex Thompson. After showing his talent in go Karts, Jerry became the official driver for Rex Thompson and raced his first race at Woodruff Speedway. His early career was marked by determination and hard work, spending his days working in his family’s sawmill to support his racing ambitions. Despite the challenges, his passion for the sport never wavered. His racing career took off at Golden Strip Speedway in Fountain Inn, SC. An old dirt track right outside of town. Jerry won race after race at the historic track. He was known by many and was a local favorite each week. He earned the nickname “The Hillside Hustler”. In 1974 Jerry started racing the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman class and traveled all over racing alongside many legends such as Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Morgan Shepherd, Harry Gant, Butch Lindley, and so many more. His reputation as a skilled and fearless driver grew, and soon he was a well-known name in the racing community. In the 1980s, Jerry transitioned from working at the sawmill to becoming a postal carrier. His racing career was amping up and he spent many weekends racing with the Goody’s Dash Series. He continued to race at Golden Strip Speedway until the track closed in 1988. Jerry won the last race that week in the Limited Late Model Class. Jerry also raced at a nearby track that went from dirt to asphalt in the 80s called Anderson Motor Speedway. The 1980s also marked the beginning of Jerry's partnership with Lenny Green. Although they knew each other from school, they only became partners in 1986, forming J&L Racing. Throughout the decades, Jerry and Lenny were involved in racing and car building. In the early 1990s, they participated in the Sportsman Series, competing at tracks such as Charlotte Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Richmond. By the late 1990s, they had shifted to the Hooters Pro Cup, traveling extensively from Milwaukee to Lakeland, Florida. Their schedule often involved racing on Friday night, working on the car overnight, and competing again on Saturday after a few hours of rest in the truck. Their dedication to racing motivated them to maintain this demanding routine. In 1994, Jerry met Bea Sands at a 4th of July party, and seven years later, they were married. Although they did not have children of their own, Jerry raised Bea's son, John Gallman, and daughter, Theresa Gallman, as his own. Jerry and Lenny continued racing in the Hooters Pro Cup until their retirement in 2002. However, their passion for racing persisted, leading them to race a Legend car for Rex Thompson, the man who started Jerry’s career, competing locally at Anderson Motor Speedway. In 2000, Jerry and Lenny assisted John in starting his go-kart racing career, thereby passing on their enthusiasm for racing to the next generation. Over the following years, John, Jerry, and Lenny were actively involved in go-kart and Legend car racing. In 2005, John moved to BM Modifieds for two seasons and then moved on to racing alongside Jerry in the legend cars. John and Jerry frequently competed against each other in Legend races. In 2008, both John and Jerry won championships at Anderson Motor Speedway, with Jerry securing the title in the master’s Class and John in the Semi-Pro category. Seeking new challenges, they transitioned to building Hot Rods in 2009. Over an eight-year period, they successfully built seven Hot Rods. Jerry retired from driving for good in 2008, he did not, however, retire from racing. After their eight year pause from racing, the trio started back up in 2016. This time with John behind the wheel and J&L Racing running the show. In 2023, the team took a massive loss when they had to say goodbye to their partner and dear friend Lenny Green after a long-fought battle with cancer. Lenny’s memory and legacy remain a large part of this race team today. John and Jerry continue to race and have passed along the love of the sport to John’s son Chandler. Jerry’s journey as a race car driver is a testament to his passion, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to the sport. His legacy is one of speed, skill, and a deep love for racing. He continues to inspire and influence the world of motorsports, leaving an indelible mark on the racing community.

What was Jerry’s Craziest race?

It was 1975 at what used to be Tri-Co racetrack, It is now Orange County Speedway. I qualified 3rd, Harry Gant was on the poll. Me and Tommy Houston were racing side by side. I got by Tommy and was running down Ray Hendrix, just as I got to Ray in turn one his motor blew, and we wrecked. Ray hit the wall and landed on the guard rail, his car was on fire, Tommy crashed, and he had a fire in his car too. I jumped the guardrail, and my car flipped upside down in a ole muddy frog pond. I didn’t know how much water I landed in I just knew I was upside down in water. I managed to get my seatbelts off and start to try and get my head above water. I finally scratched my way out enough to get air right about the time my brother Randy got to me. He said I had water in my goggles and my eyes looked like they were floating. That was my favorite little race car, it was a 66 nova

Celebrating Our Drivers' Milestones

At CWG Racing, in our racing families achievements, showcasing the talent and dedication of five generations of racers. Our drivers’ page is designed to highlight the remarkable accomplishments, skill sets, and biographies of our dedicated team.

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Meet Our Talented Racers

Our race team biography is filled with stories of perseverance, victories, and family heritage. Each of our drivers at CWG Racing has contributed to our legacy with their unique skills and remarkable achievements. From local tracks to national circuits, our have left their mark on the racing community.

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