Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gaughan set to make move on NASCAR circuit

Las Vegan expected to sign with Penske Racing for 2004 season

By JEFF WOLF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Brendan Gaughan Competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series the past two seasons

Brendan Gaughan is expected to become the second Las Vegas native to drive full time in the top NASCAR stock-car racing series next year when he joins Penske Racing South.

Gaughan, 28, could sign Thursday with the team owned by motorsports legend Roger Penske, according to anonymous sources.

Gaughan has spent the last two seasons driving Orleans Racing's No. 62 Dodge owned by his father, Michael Gaughan, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He was Rookie of the Year in 2002 and finished fourth in the standings this year with six wins. He was in contention for the series championship until a crash late in the season finale took him out of the running.

Neither Michael nor Brendan Gaughan could be reached for comment Tuesday, but a person close to their truck team, which is based in Las Vegas, said both men were in the team's shop Monday to assure team members that a major sponsor could be finalized soon for the team. They assured the team it would not be disbanded if Brendan Gaughan jumps to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, formerly called the Winston Cup Series.

Gaughan, a graduate of Bishop Gorman High School and Georgetown University, would join Las Vegas native Kurt Busch, who drives for Roush Racing, in the Cup series.

Rumors have been prevalent on racing Internet sites about Gaughan's ascension to the country's top series, possibly with sponsorship from Kodak.

Adding to that speculation was the recent resignation of Shane Wilson from the Orleans Racing team. Wilson had been Gaughan's crew chief and team manager in the truck series the past three years and is to begin working today at Penske's shop near Charlotte, N.C.

The Orleans team is looking for a replacement for Wilson, who played an important role in the success of Gaughan's truck team.

Another source said Steve Park, a veteran of the Cup series, will replace Gaughan in the Orleans truck.

The Orleans team also has said it will field a car for Scott Lynch in NASCAR's regional stock-car series, formerly called Winston West, where he will try to defend the championship he won this year. Gaughan won the Winston West title for Orleans Racing in 2000 and 2001.

Lynch, who competed in a few truck races as Gaughan's teammate this season, also might drive for the Orleans team in some truck events in 2004, but sources said he is not a candidate to drive the team's primary truck.