LAS VEGAS - (August 23, 2000) - As an instructor for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, Brendan Gaughan hopes his prior 1500 laps around Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park will be to his advantage when he competes in the Sears Craftsman 175 on Sunday, August 27.
"It's a big 'thank-you' to the folks at the Richard Petty Driving Experience for having me instruct at the Chicago track," said Gaughan, who will pilot the No. 62 NAPA / Martin-Senour Chevy Silverado in the inaugural event. "That kind of track time really helps. When you lead students around the track slowly, you can see things you don't normally see. In the turns for example -- entering, exiting, and through the middle -- I've found a lot of lines."
Chicago will be the fifth of six selected NASCAR Craftsman Truck races on the docket this year for Gaughan and Orleans Racing. The NAPA team also plans to run the series finale at Fontana.
"The Chicago track is a perfect one-mile oval," said Gaughan, whose primary focus is the NASCAR Winston West Series title. "It's wide and it's flat. I think we'll see a lot of close racing and passing this weekend."
The paved oval is surrounded by a seven-furlong horse-racing track, making it one of only two dual-purpose racing facilities in the country. The first was Dover (Del.) Downs International Speedway.
"For the Chicago race, our NAPA truck will be co-sponsored by the Casino Queen instead of the Orleans Hotel," explained Gaughan. "That's because the president of Sportsman's Park, Charles Bidwill III, and my dad, Michael Gaughan, are business partners in the Casino Queen riverboat in St. Louis (Mo.)."
Gaughan's Silverado also sported the Casino Queen logo at Gateway International Raceway, where he posted a career-best 11th place finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Adding six truck races and his Richard Petty Driving Experience duties to a full Winston West circuit keeps Gaughan on the run. In Round 9 at Irwindale Speedway, he captured his fourth career Bud Pole and increased his series lead to a 210-point advantage over Kevin Richards (1508 - 1298).
Thus far this season, Gaughan has led the most laps of competition, has completed more laps than any other driver on the circuit, and has stood on the podium five times. His 2000 record boasts eight top-five finishes, two poles, and two wins.
"Our strategy for the truck race will be the same as it's been for Winston West," added Gaughan. "That means staying out of trouble and being patient. Fred Graves will again be our crew chief for Chicago, and he's been a big asset to this team. We're hoping to break into a top ten finish."
The Sears Craftsman 175 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race gets the green flag on
Sunday August 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
