NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series News and Notes - Las Vegas

* Gaughan both racer and entertainment director as series heads to his hometown * Crawford, Ford enjoy spoils of victory at New Hampshire International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 19, 2005) – It doesn’t take much to get Brendan Gaughan (No. 77 Jasper Engines & Transmissions Dodge) excited. But this week, the Las Vegas native is really excited.

Gaughan and teammate Steve Park (No. 62 Orleans Dodge) comprise the home team in Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Las Vegas 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

To say that the 2003 race winner is pumped up is an understatement.

“We don’t even need to do a press release for the Orleans team this week. It speaks for itself,” said Gaughan. “In 2003, we had almost 70,000 people show up for the race and we went out there and got the pole and spanked the field.

“Last year, Steve had a good run (finishing third). This is the race we mark every year and say this is THE race. If we win Vegas we all get to keep our jobs and everybody is happy.”

Back-to-back weeks have seen Park on his home track – New Hampshire International Speedway – and Gaughan on his own ground. Ironically, Gaughan edged his teammate last Saturday at NHIS with a 10th-place finish to Park’s 12th.

Park would like to turn the table – but he’d settle for a one-two finish regardless of which driver wins the big prize.

“We’re excited about it,” said Park, who won at California Speedway in February, some 150 miles west of LVMS off Interstate 15. “We had new trucks built and took them out last week, shook them down and had a good test.”

Adds Gaughan, “We’re coming out with our guns loaded. We’re going to try to (win). Whether it’s Steve or myself, I want us both up there and hitting each other for the win.”

Performing at home before friends and family can be a distraction. Not for the outgoing Gaughan, who will attempt to become a series record-matching, 14th different winner this week.

Gaughan’s family has been in the Las Vegas gaming business for more than 50 years. His father, Michael, owns the Orleans Hotel and Casino where most of the teams stay this week as well as other properties in addition to the two race teams. The team’s race shop is located behind Turn 1 at LVMS and will open its doors for a luncheon and open house on Friday.

Thus, the younger Gaughan figures to be entertainment director as well as competitor.

“We’re going to take a few folks out Thursday night and do a little Las Vegas style,” said Gaughan. “Everybody thinks so many things about Vegas and I like the guys to come to Vegas and have a good time.”

NEWS & NOTES, PART II

* Crawford’s win sets one record, closes on another … Rick Crawford (No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral Ford) became the 10th different winner in succession at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sept. 17 to set a record for a series track. Crawford, with victories in three consecutive years, was the 13th winner of 2005. That’s one short of the season mark of 14 established in 1998. There also were 13 different winners a year ago. * Ford back in victory lane – finally … Crawford ended nearly 13 months and 39 races of frustration for the manufacturer, which last tasted victory on Aug. 25, 2004 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The two wins had one significant, common denominator. Kevin “Cowboy” Starland was crew chief for both Crawford and Bristol winner Carl Edwards. Chevrolet, with nine wins, continues to lead series manufacturer standings by a 128 to 103 count over Dodge. Toyota is third and Ford fourth. * Setzer rights ship, adds to point lead at NHIS … After losing nearly 80 percent of a 227-point championship lead in three races, Dennis Setzer (No. 46 Chevrolet Z71 Silverado Chevrolet) got things turned around in New Hampshire. But Setzer had to prevail in an end-of-race duel with his closest rival to build his lead to 59 points with six races remaining. Setzer finished second in the Sylvania 200 by Lowe’s with Ted Musgrave (No. 1 Mopar Dodge) third after the pair spent most of the race’s final 25 laps side-by-side and bumper-to-tailgate. * ETC. … Several competitors new to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will debut at LVMS. They include Joey Miller (No. 12 Toyota Tundra Toyota), winner of the most recent ARCA/REMAX event at Salem, Ind.; David Gilliland (No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevrolet), currently fourth in NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series points standings; and Burney Lamar, a two-time NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series winner in 2005, making his first start in Kevin Harvick Inc.’s No. 92 HPS/Groeniger Chevrolet. … Gilliland’s father, Butch, competed in the 1996 Las Vegas 350. They would become the 14th father and son to start a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race. … Setzer has become the second driver in series history to win $4 million. His career total is $4,010,574, second only to the $5,572,545 won by Jack Sprague (No. 16 Chevy Trucks Chevrolet).

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

* Nobody more dominant in Vegas than Sprague … Pick a Las Vegas Motor Speedway record – any record – and it’s odds on that you’ll find the name Sprague. Here are a few: Most wins (two), most money won ($317,165), most top five and top-10 finishes (six), most laps/miles led (298/447) and most laps/miles completed (919/1,378.5). * Four former Las Vegas 350 winners in field … Sprague and Gaughan are joined in this week’s entry by Musgrave (2001) and David Starr (No. 75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet, 2002). Three of eight races and two of the last three have been won from the Bud Pole. This week’s Craftsman Win from the Pole Bonus is $12,000. Brandon Whitt (No. 38 Red Horse Racing Toyota) was the award’s last winner on July 23 at Memphis Motorsports Park.

QUOTEBOOK

* “This team has grown nicely over the past month and I can’t say enough about Tony Furr (the crew chief) and what he has done with this team. I am very glad that we got to finally give the Wylers the type of finish they deserve and this will give all of us some positive momentum going into the rest of the season.” – Chad Chaffin, No. 60 Jeff Wyler Toyota, following his ninth-place finish in New Hampshire – the team’s first top 10 in series competition. * “It’s the first time since clinching our championship that we’re back together as a team. This is exciting for all of us. It is a reunion of sorts. The members of my team all continue to work in NASCAR racing. Many of them made special arrangements so they could race with me this weekend. It will be a sentimental and exciting race for us. The chemistry is really right for this race.” – Eric Norris (No. 07 Pavestone Chevrolet) on returning with the crew with which he won the 2002 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series championship. * “There is a group of about 23 people coming from Wisconsin for the weekend, including my parents and my brother. A bunch of them were at IRP, too, when we almost got our first win. It would be great to get that win this weekend. I have a feeling if we win Saturday night I might not make the red-eye flight back to Charlotte after the race. I might have to stay in Vegas an extra night and celebrate with everyone." – Raybestos Rookie of the Year leader Todd Kluever, No. 50 World Financial Group Ford.

10 YEARS TOUGH Greg Biffle holds the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record for wins in a season – nine. He broke Mike Skinner’s eight-win record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 24, 1999.

FROM THE ARCHIVES While the Las Vegas 350 has determined the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion on three occasions – 1996 through 1998 – the race winner never has worn that season’s crown. Second place would seem to be the key the success. Jack Sprague was the runnerup finisher in 1997, ‘99 and 2001 – all championship years. Ron Hornaday Jr. finished second in 1998, the season in which he won his second title. Mike Bliss was the second-place finisher when he captured the title in 2002.

Fast Facts

Next Event: Las Vegas 350. (Race No. 20 of 25).

Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, Nev.).

When: 9:15 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 24.

Track layout: 1.5-mile paved oval.

Race length: 350 kilometers/219 miles/146 laps.

Posted awards: $489,222.

TV: SPEED Channel, 9 p.m. ET.

Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.

2004 winner: Shane Hmiel.

2004 polesitter: Mike Skinner.

Pre-race schedule (all times local): Saturday – Practice 9 - 10 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Qualifying 3 p.m. Trucks impounded after qualifying.

Top 10 drivers: 1. Dennis Setzer 2,756. 2. Ted Musgrave 2,697. 3. Ron Hornaday Jr. 2,553. 4. Jimmy Spencer 2,523. 5. Mike Skinner 2,472. 6. Bobby Hamilton 2,422. 7. Todd Bodine 2,403. 7. David Reutimann 2,366.9. Matt Crafton 2,353. 10. David Starr 2,342.

Track contact: Jeff Motley, (702) 632-8266 or media@lvms.com

For additional information, contact: Owen A. Kearns, NASCAR Public Relations, (661) 663-8770, or okearns@nascar.com