Brendan Gaughan blistered the field at a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record average speed to win Saturday's Sears 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Gaughan, who led twice for 48 laps - including the final 21 - averaged 154.044 mph for the 200-mile distance. He beat Ted Musgrave by 11.477 seconds - nearly a quarter of a lap - in the series' third-widest margin of victory.
Gaughan's second straight win - and fourth in the last seven races - easily supassed the previous fastest race speed of 144.260 at California Speedway in 2000. Dodges swept the first four spots with Chad Chaffin and Bud Pole starter Jason Leffler finishing third and fourth. Raybestos Rookie leader Carl Edwards was fifth in a Ford as 14 of the event's 23 finishers completed all 100 trips around the 2-mile oval. There were 10 lead changes among eight drivers with just a single caution for six laps - to dust fluid on the frontstretch - slowed the racing. Gaughan and seventh-place finisher Travis Kvapil each have scored 2,000 points at the halfway point of the 25-race schedule with the former becoming the official championship leader by virtue of his four wins.
The finish follows:
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race - Sears 200
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Mich.
Saturday, July 26, 2003
1. (6) Brendan Gaughan, Dodge, 100, $47,850
2. (3) Ted Musgrave, Dodge, 100, 31,475
3. (2) Chad Chaffin, Dodge, 100, 22,975
4. (1) Jason Leffler, Dodge, 100, 16,100
5. (4) Carl Edwards #, Ford, 100, 14,600
6. (7) Jon Wood, Ford, 100, 12,625
7. (18) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 100,12,475
8. (15) Dennis Setzer, Chevrolet, 100, 12,700
9. (9) Terry Cook, Ford, 100, 12,600
10. (11) Bobby Hamilton, Dodge, 100, 13,875
11. (5) Bill Lester, Dodge, 100, 12,275
12. (14) Rick Crawford, Ford, 100, 12,140
13. (8) David Starr, Chevrolet, 100, 12,065
14. (12) Robert Pressley, Dodge, 100, 12,015
15. (10) Mike Skinner, Dodge, 99, 12,415
16. (30) Randy Briggs #, Ford, 98, 11,940
17. (21) Chris Horn, Chevrolet, 98, 10,840
18. (13) Eric Jones, Chevrolet, 97, 10,815
19. (35) Doug Keller #, Chevrolet, 96, 11,015
20. (25) Jerry Hill, Dodge, 96, . 10,590
21. (28) Loni Richardson, Chevrolet, 95, 9,465
22. (36) Ricky Sanders, Ford, 94, 9,415
23. (23) Jody Lavender #, Chevrolet, 93, 10,390
24. (33) Jamie Aube, Chevrolet, 73, ignition, 10,365
25. (16) Matt Crafton, Chevrolet, 66, engine failure, 10,340
26. (19) Johnny Chapman, Chevrolet, 40, rear end, 9,315
27. (17) Lance Hooper, Ford, 35, transmission, 9,290
28. (29) Randy MacDonald, Chevrolet, 27, engine failure, 9,265
29. (22) Stan Boyd, Chevrolet, 25, engine failure, 9,240
30. (26) Jonathon Price, Chevrolet, 21, transmission, 9,215
31. (27) Ryan McGlynn, Chevrolet, 10, overheating, 9,190
32. (24) Phil Bonifield, Chevrolet, 7, water pump, 9,165
33. (31) G.J. Mennen, Dodge, 4, handling, 9,140
34. (20) Kenny Hendrick, Ford, 2, engine failure, 9,115
35. (32) Aaron Daniel, Ford, 2, vibration, 9,090
36. (34) Rick Ware, Chevrolet, 0, clutch, 9,065
Average Speed of Race Winner: 154.044 mph.
Time of Race: 1 hour, 17 minutes, 54 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 11.477 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 1 for 6 laps.
Lead Changes: 10 among 8 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Leffler 0; T. Musgrave 1-10; C. Edwards # 11-28; T. Kvapil
29; L. Hooper 30-33; J. Leffler 34-39; J. Wood 40-46; B. Gaughan 47-73; C.
Edwards # 74-77; B. Lester 78-79; B. Gaughan 80-100.
Top 10 in Points: B. Gaughan - 2,000; T. Kvapil - 2,000; T. Musgrave - 1,969;
D. Setzer - 1,921; R. Crawford - 1,890; J. Wood - 1,876; B. Hamilton - 1,868;
J. Leffler - 1,852; T. Cook - 1,754; C. Edwards # - 1,687.
