DOTTER GRABS THIRD WIN OF 2000 IN NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES

Source: NASCAR Media Relations
Date: 09/05/2000

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (Sept. 5, 2000) - When Bobby Dotter got the opportunity this season to race in the NASCAR Winston West Series, he wanted to make the most of it. And he certainly has, with three wins in the first 10 races. His most recent victory came in the Bank One 250 at Rocky Mountain Raceways near Salt Lake City, Utah, on September 4. The win moved him to second place in the championship standings in the series.

Dotter, who competed in more than 200 races in the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division from 1990 to 1996, was calling the shots as a crew chief for a team in the NASCAR Winston West Series a year ago. But when car owner Gene Christensen gave him the chance to get behind the wheel of the People Against Drugs Chevrolet this season, Dotter jumped at the chance. "Gene has given me the chance to show that I can still drive a race car and win races," Dotter said. "I'm enjoying it immensely."

With back-to-back victories earlier this year - at Laguna Seca Raceway and Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway - Dotter traveled to Rocky Mountain Raceways looking for another win.

He dashed into the early lead from his starting spot on the outside of the front row and demonstrated his dominance in leading 191 of the 250 circuits around the .375mile paved oval. Dotter took over the lead for good on lap 166. He charged across the finish line at a record pace of 66.673 mph, with a margin of victory of 4.09 seconds. With the win - the Charlotte, N.C. driver netted $19,805 in prize money and posted awards, including the Gatorade Front Runner Award.

Bill Sedgwick of Acton, Calif., finished second - with the nose of his Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water Chevrolet inches ahead of Austin Cameron of El Cajon, Calif., in the Mar-Con Creative Touch Chevrolet. Series rookie Mike Duncan of Lamont, Calif., was fourth in the Surface Pumps Chevrolet. Crossing the line in fifth was Scott Gaylord of Lakewood, Colo., in the Oliver Gravity Separators Chevrolet. Completing the top 10 were Brendan Gaughan, Brett Thompson, Steve Portenga, Rick Bogart and Sammy Potashnick.

The race featured eight lead changes among three drivers -- Dotter, Cameron and Gaughan. The event was slowed by six cautions for 41 laps- Gaughan won his third Bud Pole Award of the season in qualifying - turning in a lap of 88.258 mph in the NAPA/Martin Senour Chevrolet.

Gaughan - who pushed his streak of top-10 finishes to 15 - continues to lead the championship standings. The Las Vegas, Nov., competitor has 1,663 points. Dotter, meanwhile, moved to second in the standings with -1,478. Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., is close behind with 1,438. Sedgwick is fourth with 1,418, followed by Kevin Richards of Spokane, Wash., with 1,413. Rounding out the top 10 are John Metcalf at 1,375, Gaylord at 1,326, Eric Norris at 1,314, Duncan at 1,303 and Joe Bean at 1,259.

Duncan remains out in front in the charge for the rookie-of-the-year title. He has 70 points - followed by Bogart with 71, Troy Cline with 66, Jeff Jefferson with 58, Mike Grady with 53 and Gene Christensen with 52.

The next event on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule is the Spears Manutacturing 200 at Mesa Marin Raceway in BaWrsrield. Calif-, on OGt. 22.

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