NASCAR Winston West, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (March 26, 2000)-- It was a banner weekend for Brendan Gaughan who scored his first NASCAR Winston West Series career victory on Saturday evening, followed by a 13th place finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event on Sunday at Mesa Marin Raceway.
This was the second consecutive doubleheader for Gaughan and the entire NAPA Auto Parts/MartinSenour Automotive, Finishes sponsored Orleans Racing team, who are running the full Winston West circuit plus a select number of Craftsman Truck races during the 2000 season.
Composure was the key to Victory Lane for Gaughan in the Coors 200 presented by Outback Steakhouse event, round 2 of the Winston West Series. "I drove the most patient race of my life," said Gaughan, pilot of the No. 16 NAPA Chevrolet Monte Carlo, "Our pre-race strategy was to drop back early and take our time. If I could just stay close to the leaders, I figured the race would come to me."
From his outside front row starting position, Gaughan slid back early in the race and waited for each opportunity to present itself. "When Bill Sedgwick (pole-sitter) flew by me at the start, I dropped back to about 9th which was further back than I wanted to be," explained Gaughan, 24, of Las Vegas. "But I just had to bide my time, and was able to pick them off one at a time. We only pitted for gas and tires once, but with each yellow, we were able to move up a couple of spots."
His final moment came on lap 125, when he moved into the lead and held it for the balance of the 200-lap charge around the half-mile oval. "I worked on saving the tires, but picked up the pace at the end when the crew told me Steve Portenga was coming on hard." Gaughan took the checkered with a .969 margin of victory.
In just his second Craftsman Truck Series race of the year, the Dodge California Truck Stop 250, Gaughan powered his No. 62 NAPA Chevy Silverado to a 13th place finish ahead of some of the top-ranked drivers on the circuit.
"I learned a lot by following Randy Tolsma during Happy Hour," explained Gaughan. "But after practice, we knew we needed to make some changes." Shane Wilson, who has temporarily aligned with the team as crew chief, changed the springs, shocks, transmission, and entire rear-end housing on the truck.
Starting in the 26th spot, Gaughan worked hard to battle his way up front. "At one point, when Tolsma. was leading, I was a lap down wasting my tires trying to keep rap with him," said Gaughan. "A yellow came out and he let me get by, which saved us and we finished on the lead lap: We're happy. It was a great weekend for the whole team."
The NAPA Auto Parts / Martin-Senour Automotive Finishes sponsored Orleans Racing team, owned by Bill McNally, knows what it takes to visit Victory Lane. "We're a new team, but we're basically the same team that won the Winston West championship last year, said Gaughan. "We have a new shop and Kevin Kroyer is building our engines now. It's all coming together."
Gaughan has moved into the NASCAR Winston West Series point lead with a 33 point edge over second-place. driver, Sammy Potashnick (340 - 307).
