SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2000) - Fifteen NASCAR Winston West Series drivers will share a combined $50,000 from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., as prize money for the second leg of the 2000 schedule is distributed later this month.
The money is to be presented to the 15 drivers on Oct. 22, prior to the running of the Spears Manufacturing 250 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
Brendan Gaughan will receive $10,000 for accumulating the most points in the sixth though the 10t" races. The 25-year-old Las Vegas, Nev., competitor drove the NAPA/Martin Senour Chevrolet to victory in Monroe, Wash., as well as gathering three other top-five finishes in those five events - netting 845 points in the process. Gaughan also garnered the top prize for leading the first leg of the schedule earlier this year.
Two-time series champion Bill Sedgwick of Acton, Calif., will receive $6,000. Driving the Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water Chevrolet - Sedgwick accumulated 805 points, while finishing in the top five three times.
Bobby Dotter of Charlotte, N.C., will take home $4,000, based on the 797 paints he accumulated. Dotter notched two wins in the five events, driving the People Against Drugs Chevrolet to victory at Irwindale, Calif., and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., will receive $3,750. He netted 737 points, with four top-10 finishes in the Roto-Rooter Cheverolet. Jeff Jefferson of Naches, Wash., will receive $3,500 for his 714-point effort - which included a win at Portland, Ore., and two other top-five finishes in the sloot.com Ford.
John Metcalf of Aurora, Colo., had 698 points and will receive $3,250. Mike Duncan of Lamont, Calif., had 683 points and will receive $3,000. Scott Gaylord of Lakewood, Colo., had 678 points and will receive $2,750. Kevin Richards of Spokane, Wash., had 667 points and will receive $2,500. Troy Cline of Hawthorne, Calif., had 644 and will receive $2,250.
Five other drivers who will also be receiving checks are Eric Norris of Dallas, Texas, with 634 and $2,000; ,Joe Bean of San Diego, Calif., with f>22 and $1,900; Sammy Potashnick of Sikeston, Mo., with 598 and $1,800; Rick Bogart of El Cajon, Calif., with 582 and $1,700; and Jack Sellers of Sacramento, Calif-, with 551 and $1,600.
The prize money is in addition to $50,000 that was distributed for the first leg of the schedule earlier this season. This is the third consecutive year that teams in the NASCAR Winston West Series are being rewarded for their performance immediately following the first five races and second five races of the season.
The prize; money is part of the $350,000 point fund award from R.J. Reynolds' Winston brand. The bulk of the overall point fund, meanwhile, will be distributed at the end of the season based on the final championship point standings.
The NASCAR Winston West Series is one of nine NASCAR Touring Series' that blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series are extremely popular with fans and competitors. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career, or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks. Corporate sponsors make significant contributions to NASCAR Touring Series point funds. These sponsors include Anheuser-Busch, Featherlite, Goody's Headache Powders, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Raybestos Brakes, RE/MAX International, Inc., Slim Jim, and RJ Reynolds brand, Winston.
