NASCAR NEWS & NOTES - ROSEBURG OREGON WEST RACE

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 06/26/2006

The race … This event is the sixth race on the series schedule. It is the only visit by the series to the state of Oregon this year.

The track … Douglas County Speedway is a half-mile paved oval with 11 degrees banking in the corners. The track – located just off Interstate 5 on the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg, Ore. – hosted four West Series races between 1966 and 1971, when it was a quarter-mile oval. The series has made four visits to the track since it was renovated and expanded in 2001.

Annual kick-off festivities in Roseburg … The annual parade of NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series team haulers is slated to wind its way through Roseburg, Ore., on Friday, June 30. It will be followed by a driver autograph session, which is open to the public, at the BI-MART on NW Garden Valley road from 4 to 5 p.m.

Special fireworks celebration … This year’s race is to be capped off with a special fireworks show to commemorate the Fourth of July.

Last year’s event … Mike Duncan (No. 9 Lucas Oil/Ron’s Rear Ends Chevrolet) dominated last year’s event at Roseburg, winning the Budweiser Pole Award for the second consecutive year and leading all but one lap around the flat half-mile paved oval. Although out front, Duncan encountered plenty of pressure while working his way through lapped traffic – with views of Scott Lynch, Steve Portenga (No. 77 King Taco Ford) and David Gilliland in his rear view mirror. Duncan maintained the lead and crossed the finish line with a margin of victory of 2.125 seconds. He was followed by Lynch, Portenga, Gilliland and Tim Woods III (No. 54 Chino Hills Ford Ford).

Winning pair … Austin Cameron (No. 88 RaceCarFans.com Chevrolet) and Jack McCoy lead the way in AutoZone West Series victories at Douglas County Speedway, with two each. McCoy’s wins were in 1966 and 1969 – while Cameron’s were back-to-back, in 2002 and 2003.

Budweiser Poles … The eight AutoZone West Series races at Roseburg featured six different Budweiser Pole winners. McCoy and Duncan lead, with two each.

Leading the way … Duncan leads several categories in series competition at Roseburg in the modern era (since 1971). He has led the most laps of competition, running out front 318 laps. He has the most top-five finishes, with four, and the most top-10 finishes, with four. With an average finish of 2.5, Duncan also leads among drivers with at least four starts at Roseburg.

Top money … Cameron still has a slight edge over Duncan in money won at Roseburg. Cameron took home $20,990 in three races, while Duncan has collected $20,658 in four events.

Returning drivers … Five drivers have competed in all four races at Roseburg since 2002 – Mike Duncan, Mike David (No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford), Scott Gaylord (No. 00 Oliver Gravity Separators/Denver Seminary Chevrolet), Jack Sellers (No. 75 Aramark Pontiac) and Brett Thompson (No. Thompson Motorsports/Rich Thompson Trucking/Windmill Inn Chevrolet).

Stat of the race … Three of the five AutoZone West Series races in the modern era were won by the Budweiser Pole winner.

This Week’s Series Leaders … Through five races of the NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series season:

Points leader – Mike David, 712

Money won – Mike David, $36,733

Laps led – Mike David, 114

Laps completed – Mike Duncan, 697; Jim Inglebright, 697

Average finish – Jim Inglebright, 9.2

Victories – Andrew Myers, 2

Poles – Nick Lynch, 1; Eric Holmes, 1; Spencer Clark, 1; Mike Duncan, 1; Brian Vickers, 1

Top-five finishes – Peyton Sellers, 3; Eric Holmes, 3

Top-10 finishes – Jim Inglebright, 4; Steve Portenga, 4

Races led – Mike David, 3

BIRTHDAYS

Drivers celebrating a birthday during the month of July include Gary Smith, who turns 38 on the 6th; Brendan Gaughan, who turns 31 on the 10th; Rick Ruzbarsky, who turns 41 on the 11th; Bobby Dotter, who turns 46 also on the 11th; Michael Mulhall, who turns 26 on the 15th; Brandon Ash, who turns 29 on the 17th; and Jack Sellers, who turns 62 on the 27th.

See Also .:

• Douglas County Speedway Track Page

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