GAUGHAN CHASES AFTER CHAMPIONSHIP IN NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES

Source: NASCAR Media Relations
Date: 05/15/2001

A year ago, Brendan Gaughan took the lead in the NASCAR Winston West Series point standings at the second event of the season and remained on top throughout the year - en route to winning the 2001 championship. This year, he is trying to come from behind to catch the leaders.

Gaughan is gaining ground quickly, however. With his second consecutive series victory - in the Food 4 Less 250 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on Saturday, May 12 Gaughan closed to within 48 points of the leader.

The last two races are in sharp contrast to the way he began his season. It was not until the fourth race of the year that Gaughan picked up a top-five finish and moved into the top 10 of the championship standings. Now it appears the 25-year-old driver is back on track and in contention for another title.

Gaughan garnered his latest victory, the fourth of his career, after escaping a laterace charge by Sean Woodside and then holding off Mark Reed in a two-lap dash to the finish. His margin of victory was .338 of a second at an average speed of 77.909 mph. Gaughan won $14,866 in prize money and posted awards, including the Gatorade Front Runner Award for leading the most laps in the NAPA/Martin Senour Chevrolet. Earlier in the day, Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., had won his fourth Bud Pole Award of the year with a run of 96.826 mph in his Food 4 Less Pontiac. Following him across the line for third was Woodside of Saugus, Calif., in the Team Walker/Ringers/NAPA Chevrolet. Fourth went to Kevin Richards of Spokane, Wash., in the Monaco Enterprises Chevrolet while Bill Sedgwick of Acton, Calif., took fifth in the 24 Hour Fitness Chevrolet. Rounding out the top 10 were Scott Gaylord, Johnny Borneman, Sammy Potashnick, Steve Portenga and Neville Lance.

The race featured seven lead changes among five drivers - Gaughan, Woodside, Potashnick, Portenga and Richards. The pace of the race was slowed by five cautions for 30 laps.

Reed's runner-up finish moved him back into first in the championship standings with 945 points, Austin Cameron is second with 906, followed by Gaughan with 897 Portenga of Sparks, Nev, is fourth with 853 - followed by Borneman of Ramona, Calif., with 832. Completing the top 10 of the standings are Gaylord at 822, Richards at 813, Eric Norris at 805, Potashnick at 762 and Woodside at 755.

Reed continues to lead the chase for the Rookie-of-the-Year Award. He tops the freshman class with 57 points over Borneman with 51 and Ross Thompson and Tim Woods III with 40 each. Trailing them are Tony Schmidt, 17; Scott Lynch, 17; Brett Thompson, 11; and Dennis Hannel, 3.

The next event on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule is the FoodsCo NASCAR Challenge Salinas 250 at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca - in Monterey, Calif. - on Sunday, May 20.

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