When the NAPA Auto Parts 200 thunders into action, August 16 at Stockton 99 Speedway, Scott Lynch and Orleans Racing will be looking to put their 08 Yerf-Dog Dodge in the Winner's Circle for the second time this season.
With seven events of the 13 race NASCAR Grand National Division - Winston West Series completed, Lynch, who earned his first win of the season at Irwindale Speedway three weeks ago, currently sits in second place in the point's battle, just one point out of the lead.
"Winning at Irwindale was an incredible rush," smiles Lynch. " Naturally being Number One is always special, but this one was a real honor. Not only were we able to give Yerf-Dog their first win of the year, but we will able to give Dodge their first Winston West victory since August 5, 1978 when Ray Elder took the Checkered Flag at Craig Road Speedway in Las Vegas. Now we want to make it two in a row."
Racing on the Stockton 99 Speedway for the first time, Lynch knows he will have his work cut out for him. "We tested there last week. It is the smallest track we run all season,' he explains, "and you have to really be careful. The racing is going to be incredibly tight and track position will be all-important. Our game plan is to try to qualify up top and get to the front as soon as possible. We were really pleased with the test results. Luckily for me, Ron Strmiska, whose son is on the Orleans Racing Craftsman Truck Series crew, came out and gave me some great tips plus help with which line to use. He has raced Stockton numerous times and his advice was definitely invaluable. Working with the Orleans crew is great. They are extremely knowledgeable and it is largely because of them that I am doing so well this year." Page 2
In his first full year of NASCAR Grand National Division - Winston West Series racing, Lynch leads the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, taking top honors in six out of seven events. In addition he leads the pack in terms of laps led with 209 laps.
"The competition is pretty fierce this season," continues Lynch who has two Bud Poles, one win, three top fives and five top 10's. "There have been seven different winners in seven races and the points are really tight. This is, in fact, one of the closest fights in the history of the series."
However being in the thick of the fight is appealing to Lynch, who just earned his degree in communications at the University of Utah. "I thrive on challenge," he says. "That's what makes racing so exciting. We are lucky…we have a great sponsor - Yerf-Dog, the largest manufacturer of karts in the country, a great car and a fantastic crew. In fact this weekend, Shane Wilson, the crew chief on Brendan Gaughan's No. 62 Orleans Dodge Craftsman Truck will be up in Stockton to help out. It doesn't get any better than this and having all these people behind me just increases my desire to win."
In addition to racing at Stockton on Saturday, Lynch will make a special
appearance on Friday evening at the Central Valley Dodge Dealer's Association's
hospitality tent at the Stockton Fairgrounds. On hand to sign autographs, Lynch
will be in attendance from 4PM to 7PM.
