Hometown race gives Gaughan chance to boost dismal season

Brendan Gaughan was eager for his baby son to join him in Victory Lane this year.

Michael James Gaughan was 13 weeks old in late January when he shared a victory celebration with his father and his father's teammates in the winner's circle.

But it wasn't where Gaughan, 36, expected that first father-son celebration to take place.

It came after the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona International Speedway, when he shared driving with three others to win the prestigious marathon.

"It was very special to have him in Victory Lane," Gaughan said, "but I thought his first time would be after a truck race."

Too bad his son isn't 8 years old. Then he could have been in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway winner's circle in 2003 after Gaughan won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title while driving for a team owned by his family.

"That, without question, was the best thing that's ever happened to me other than when my son was born," Gaughan said Friday. "It was right here in my hometown. I had so many friends there.

"I really can't remember too much of what happened after we left the track."

One day he might want a case of amnesia so he can't recall this season.

After racing the past two years with Rusty Wallace Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Gaughan was optimistic when he moved back to trucks this season to join Germain Racing. He would be competing as a teammate with two-time series champion Todd Bodine, whose most recent title was in 2010.

But Germain is mired in its worst season after Bodine won 19 races for the team from 2005 to 2010, including four last year.

Neither Gaughan nor Bodine has finished better than third this year through 20 of 25 races. Gaughan has finished in the top 10 five times and is 13th in points; Bodine is ninth with nine top-10s.

"This was going to be my last year racing if I wasn't winning, but the Germain team just didn't pan out," Gaughan said, opting not to be more specific.

Germain's struggles extended to qualifying for today's Smith's 350.

Gaughan qualified 21st and Bodine will start 13th when the 219-mile race begins at 12:45 p.m. Gaughan's best lap at an average speed of 172.282 mph was about 4 mph slower than that of pole winner Ron Hornaday Jr.

The poor performances this year is one reason Gaughan has been negotiating with Richard Childress Racing to drive in 10 Nationwide races and eight truck races next year.

"This will be the answer I need to have answered," Gaughan said. "The opportunity I'm looking at will provide a definitive answer of whether I can still compete for wins."

Jeff Wolf is a freelance reporter. He can be reached at 702-406-8165 or nitrorodeo@gmail.com.