LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (March 15, 2001) Bolstered by last week’s top five finish at Tucson Raceway Park, the Orleans Racing MBNA team has been practicing precision pit stops to prepare for a win in this weekend’s NASCAR Winston West Foods Co. 200 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield. The green flag drops for legendary NASCAR driver Hershel McGriff this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. PST.
Hershel McGriff’s fifth place finish last Saturday at Tucson tied Ray Elder’s record of 96 for the second most top five’s in the history of the NASCAR Winston West Series. McGriff is also second in career top ten finishes with 140 to Bill Schmitt’s 163.
McGriff knows how to win at Bakersfield. His most recent win in Winston West was there. Hopes for a repeat performance are high for the No. 04 MBNA/Park Corp. team. McGriff sits in the tenth position in overall points and will race hard to improve that position with a win at the high banked half-mile Mesa Marin Raceway.
Orleans Racing driver Brendan Gaughan will drive the No. 62 NAPA/Martin Senour NASCAR Craftsman Truck on Saturday in the Orchard Supply Hardware 250, then return the next day to drive the No. 16 NASCAR Winston West NAPA/Martin Senour Monte Carlo in the Foods Co. 200.
“We feel good about the truck race this weekend,” said crew chief Shane Wilson. “We took good notes last year and made changes that make us more competitive. We have a much better truck this year. The new motor rules, with additional horsepower, fit right in with Brendan’s driving style.”
Brendan Gaughan won his first Winston West race at Mesa Marin last year.
“We have the same car with the same set-up,” said Wilson. “We are confident we can win again.”
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck race will be televised on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. PST. The NASCAR Winston West race will be televised on a tape-delay basis on Fox Sports NET. For more information about Orleans Racing, visit our websites at www.orleansracing.com and www.hershel-mcgriff.com.
