CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE TO BE DECIDED AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 10/27/2003

DAYTONA BEACH, Flordia -- The chase for the championship in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series has developed into one of the closest three-way battles in the history of the series.

Only 33 points separate Scott Lynch, Mike Duncan and Steve Portenga in their quest for the title as the series heads to the season finale – the King Taco 200 at California Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Lynch – a 23-year-old series rookie from Burley, Idaho – leads the standings with 1,890 points. He has driven the No. 08 Yerf-Dog/Orleans Dodge to victory three times this year, along with seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes. Lynch hopes to become just the second driver in the history of the series to win the championship as a rookie.

Duncan is just 14 markers back with 1,876 points. In addition to capturing two wins this season in the No. 9 Lucas Oil Chevrolet – the 41-year-old driver from Lamont, Calif., has put together a string of 11 consecutive top-10 finishes.

Portenga is 33 points out of the lead with 1,857 points. He piloted the No. 77 King Taco Ford to victory when the series visited California Speedway earlier this year. Portenga – who hailed from Sparks, Nev., but now lives in Bakersfield, Calif. – is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all 12 races completed so far this season.

The 33 points that separate the top three drivers make it the closest three-way battle for the series championship since the current point system was adopted 15 years ago. Twice in that span, 1992 and 1990, the top three drivers were 34 points apart going into the final race. Last year’s margin was nearly twice that at 78 points, while eight of those seasons featured a span of more than 100 points between the top three.

In addition to the tight competition for this year’s championship, there are close battles throughout the top 15 of the point standings.

Kevin Richards of Spokane, Wash., is fourth in the standings with 1,734 points – while Scott Gaylord of Lakewood, Colo., is just one marker back at 1,733 points.

Fairfield, Calif., competitor Jim Inglebright holds down the sixth spot in the standings with 1,672 points. Shadowing him with 1,663 points is Mark Reed of Bakersfield, Calif. Just six points back from him is Johnny Borneman of Ramona, Calif., with 1,657 points. Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho, is 23 markers back from him at 1,624 points.

Gene Woods of Ontario, Calif., holds down the 10th spot in the standings with 1,458 points. The next five drivers include Jack Sellers of Sacramento, Calif., with 1,323 points; Bobby Hillis of Phoenix, Ariz., with 1,263 points; Jeff Davis of Anaheim, Calif., with 1,257 points; David Eshleman of Fontana, Calif., with 1,214 points; and Austin Cameron of El Cajon, Calif., with 1,199 points.

The race ..... This event is the final of 13 races on the series schedule for 2003. It is one of four superspeedway races this year.

The track ... California Speedway is a superspeedway with turns banked 14 degrees, 11 degrees of banking in the front straight and three degrees banking in the back straight. The track has hosted eight Winston West Series events.

Two visits in 2003 ... This marks the second time since the track opened in 1997 that the series visits California Speedway twice in one season. The series competed at the Southern California facility two times in 1998.

Fontana finale ... Since 1988, the Winston West Series has traditionally closed out its competition on a superspeedway. This will mark the first time for Fontana to host the season finale, however. The final race on the schedule from 1988 to 1993, and again in 1995, was a combination event with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in Phoenix. Las Vegas was the final stop on the circuit in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2002 – with the 1999 championship race being held in Japan.

Multiple wins ... Ken Schrader is the only driver with more than one series victory at California Speedway. He won the first two races – 1997 and 1998.

Most poles ... Schrader is also the only driver to win more than one Bud Pole Award at the Southern California superspeedway – setting the fast lap in qualifying in 1998 and 2000.

Top marks ... Schrader has the most top-five finishes in series competition at California Speedway, with five, and the most top-10 finishes, with six. Kevin Richards (No. 85 Monaco Enterprises/Jerry Springer Chevrolet) has finished in the top five in three of the last four series visits, meanwhile.

Show me the money ... With $73,940 in winnings, Schrader has won the most money in Winston West Series competition at the two-mile track.

Running out front ... Schrader has also led the most laps of series competition at the superspeedway, running out front for 214 circuits.

Return performance ... Scott Gaylord (No. 00 Oliver Gravity Separators/Denver Seminary Chevrolet) is the only driver to compete in all eight Winston West Series races that have been held at California Speedway.

Manufacturers’ battle ... Chevrolet has the most wins at California Speedway among automobile manufacturers, with four. A Ford was in victory lane last year and earlier this spring, however.

Stat of the race ... The Bud Pole winner went on to win the race in four of the eight series events at California Speedway.

Most laps completed ... Scott Lynch (No. 08 Yerf-Dog/Orleans Dodge) has completed the most laps of competition this season, running 2,077 of the 2,082 possible. Steve Portenga (No. 77 King Taco Ford) is second on the list with 2,071 laps, while Brett Thompson (No. 61 Rich Thompson Trucking Chevrolet) is third with 2,055 laps completed.

Leading the pack ... Austin Cameron (No. 16 NAPA/NAPA Belts & Hose Chevrolet) has led the most laps of competition so far this season, despite missing four races. He has paced the field for 423 laps.

Best average finish ... Lynch has the best average finish in the first 12 races, with a mark of 5.33.

Crowning a champion ... The 2003 Winston West Series championship will be decided at Fontana on Saturday, Nov. 1, and the champion will be crowned during a special awards ceremony at the Alex Theater in Glendale, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 2. A dinner and reception will be held nearby at the Hilton Los Angeles North Glendale. A special portion of the festivities will commemorate the completion of the 50th season of the Winston West Series.

Five drivers, five states ... The top five drivers in the championship standings represent five different states – Idaho, California, Nevada, Washington and Colorado.

Bonus points ... The top two drivers in the championship standings have gained an equal number of bonus points so far this season. Lynch and Duncan each have accumulated 30 points for leading a lap or, in some cases, leading the most laps of a race.

Same difference ... The top nine drivers in the championship standings are separated by 256 points. One year ago the top nine drivers in the standings were also separated by 256 points with one race remaining.

Blow out the candles ... Drivers celebrating a birthday during the month of November include Jim Inglebright, who turns 42 on the 8th; Rick Carelli, who turns 48 on the 9th; and Steve Schaefer, who turns 36 on the 12th.

From the archives ... On April 13, 1980, Roy Smith led the last 10 laps en route to victory over Bill Schmitt and Hershel McGriff at Ontario (Calif.) Motor Speedway.

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