Brendan Gaughan is back. The defending champion of the NASCAR Winston West Series served notice that he is back to his winning form - taking the victory in the Pontiac Wide Track Grand Prix 200 at California Speedway on April 28. Gaughan, who recorded two victories along with nine top-five finishes en route to winning the series title last year, struggled early this season. He has quickly turned things around, however, and put himself in contention to successfully defend his championship.
"I've been saying for years that I love the big tracks," Gaughan said of his California victory. "But we have not won a race (on a big track). We are fired up."
Although Gaughan was on the tail end of the lead lap just before the midway point of the event, he raced his way back into contention. He then chased down the leader and took the top spot two laps from the finish. The 25-year-old Las Vegas competitor held a margin of 1.072 seconds at the finish, setting a record average speed of 152.316 mph in his NAPA/Martin Senour Chevrolet.
Gaughan took home $20,825 in purse money and posted awards for the victory. He became the first driver other than a NASCAR Winston Cup Series regular to win the event. The four previous races were won by Ken Schrader (1997 and 1998), Ricky Craven (1999) and Johnny Benson (2000).
Jon Wood-a third-generation competitor of the famous Wood Brothers Racing family from Stuart, Va. - finished second after dominating much of the race in the Auto Concierge Ford. Austin Cameron of El Cajon, Calif., was third in the Creative Touch/McMillin Realty Chevrolet- just inches ahead of Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., in the Roto-Rooter/King Taco Chevrolet. Jason Small of Bakersfield, Calif., finished fifth in the Ken Small Construction Chevrolet. Rounding out the top 10 were Schrader, Kevin Richards, David Gilliland, Rick Carelli and Sammy Potashnick.
The race featured seven lead changes among six drivers - Wood, Gaughan, Carelli, Eric Norris, Mark Reed and Brandon Ash. It was run at a record pace, slowing for just two cautions for eight laps.
Cameron's third-place finish was enough to move him into the lead in the championship standings. Reed, who finished the race in 12"' after spinning and brushing the wall on lap 37, trails in the standings 791 to 775. Reed, a rookie in the series, continued to grab attention at California Speedway - setting a track record in Winning the Bud Pale Award. He secured the pole, his third of the season, with a lap of 181.593 mph around the two-mile superspeedway. Gaughan, meanwhile, moved to third in the standings with 712 points. Portenga is fourth with 710, followed by Norris with 702. Rounding out the top 10 are Borneman at 686, Scott Gaylord at 672, Richards at 648, Ash at 619 and Joe Bean at 617-
Despite his problems, Reed was able to maintain his lead in the chase for this year's Rookie-of-the-Year Award. Reed leads with 47 points over Johnny Borneman with 42 -followed by Ross Thompson with 33 and Tim Woods III with 32. Tony Schmidt and Scott Lynch trail with 17 each, followed by Brett Thompson with 11 and Dennis Hannel with three.
There is a tight three-way challenge for the Manufacturers' Championship in the series. Pontiac and Chevrolet are tied in the standings with 32 points and two wins each. Ford is close behind with 31 points and one win.
The next event on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule is the Food 4 Less 250 at Irwindale Speedway on May 12.
