BAKERSFIELD, California –- Mike Duncan, the 2004 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Champion enters the 2005 race schedule with excitement and caution.
Understanding that the level of racing intensifies with each turn of the calendar page, Duncan explains, “ I’m looking forward to racing, but everybody steps up (during the short time off), and we expect all of the strong teams to be ready in Phoenix.” If the final point standings for 2004 are any indication, the run for the 2005 NASCAR West title should be fierce.
The 2004 season was a special time for Duncan and his family, as they enjoyed the success of winning the NASCAR West title in 2004. When asked to describe the feelings involved with becoming champion, Duncan exudes a genuine smile and states, “It’s been more than I expected, with all of the awards in Las Vegas . . . and being in New York was a great time as well . . . it should be a fun time as the ‘Touring Champion’ this season.”
Accompanying Duncan again in 2005 will be the winner of the Champion Crew Chief Award and two-time West series champion driver, Bill Sedgwick. In discussing his decorated Crew Chief, Duncan says, “Bill’s added another notch in his belt – more than I’ll ever have, and with out him, I wouldn’t be here.” Having been dubbed the, “killer combination”, Duncan and Sedgwick have their work cut out for them this season. Duncan acknowledges, “ A lot of things have to go right for any team to win it, so we always hope but never expect.”
The Lucas Oil/Ron’s Rear Ends #9 Chevrolet will be hoping for better results in Phoenix on January 30. The two Phoenix races in 2004 resulted in the only races last season in which Duncan finished higher than 9th place. Referencing his Phoenix races last year, Duncan emphasizes, “ Bill Sedgwick and I want to win every race, but realism sets in, and sometimes things can happen.” A sure realism in Phoenix this weekend is that Duncan and his team are ready to begin defending their 2004 title.
Mike Duncan began racing in 1997, competing in the NASCR Weekly Racing Series late model division at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, California and competing at various other short tracks in California. He won Rookie-of-the-Year in 2000 in the NASCAR Winston West Series and he won the track championship at Mesa Marin Raceway in the Late Model Division that same year. Duncan currently competes on a full-time basis in the NASCAR West Series and select events in the Weekly Racing Series by Dodge.
