(Oct. 31, 2001) - Many positions in the top 15 of the championship standings remain up for grabs a5 the NASCAR Winston West Series heads into its season finale at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway with the Food 4 Less 250 on Nov. 10. The $108,628 event, which is to be televised on a tape-delay basis on Fox Sports Net, will decide the outcome of one of the closest overall season-long battles in the history of the West's oldest stock car racing circuit.
Defending champion Brendan Gaughan of Las Vegas enters the race with a 40- point lead in the championship standings - 2,072 to 2,032 - over series rookie Mark Reed of Bakersfield, Calif. Gaughan, who won both previous NWWS races at Irwindale this year, can clinch the title by finishing seventh or better. In addition to battling for the overall title, Reed is also focused on securing the Rookie-of-the-Year Award.
Driven throughout the top 15 positions in the points, meanwhile, will be looking for a good finish in the race to move up in the final standings. Five drivers, fourth through eighth in the standings, are separated by just 58 points.
With 1,398 points, Austin Cameron of El Cajon, Calif., hopes to hold onto third over Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., with .1,828. Although Eric Norris of Dana Point, Calif., is only 21 points behind Portenga with 1,807 and could gain 8, position in the final standings - he could easily be overtaken himself by Sean Woodside of Saugus, Calif., who is just eight points back at 1,799.
Series rookie Johnny Borneman of Ramona, Calif., is seventh in the standings - but being only 14 points back at 1,785 could gain multiple positions in the final rundown. Scott Gaylord of Lakewood, Colo., is only 15 points back at 1,770 and could easily move up, as well.
Kevin Richards of Spokane, Wash., is ninth in the standings with 1,708 points - just 31 paints ahead of Brandon Ash Umpqua, Ore., with 1,677 points. Two-time series champion Bill Sedgwick of Acton, Calif., trails Ash by one point, with 1,676, meanwhile,Sammy Potashnick of Sikestan, Ma, is 12' in the standings with 1,022 points, followed by Hershel McGriff of Portland, Ore., with 1,604. Jack Sellers of Sacramento, Calif., and Tim Woods Ill of Chino Hills, Calif., are 14th and 15th, respectively. Sellers has a 33-point advantage, 1,309 to 1,336.
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 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.
