Musgrave Races to Easy Win

FONTANA, Calif. November 2, 2002, The AP reported that Ted Musgrave came from the back of the field and pulled away to an easy victory Saturday in the American Racing Wheels 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck race.

Musgrave had to start at the rear of the 36-car field after blowing an engine in practice. It took him only 26 of the 100 laps on the 2.029-mile oval at California Speedway to take the lead for the first time.

He wound up leading five times for 51 laps, taking the top spot for the final time on lap 71 and beating Ultra Motorsports teammate Jason Leffler's Dodge to the finish line by 1.603 seconds — half a straightaway.

``A big racetrack like this one, if you start from the back, you can make passes on the high side, low side, whatever,'' Musgrave said. ``The only thing I was worried about starting in the back was a couple of trucks getting together and getting my truck into it.''

Musgrave, who also won here last year, took the checkered flag for the third time this season, but the first time since May 31 in Dover, Del. — a winless span of 13 races.

He averaged 140.296 mph, the fifth fastest race in the eight seasons since the truck series started.

Rookie Brendan Gaughan came from eighth on a restart on lap 84 to finish third. He was followed by Travis Kvapil, Rick Crawford and Coy Gibbs.

Series leader Mike Bliss started fourth, led once early in the race and wound up ninth. He leads Crawford by 68 points and Musgrave by 107 with two races remaining.