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 IRWINDALE,
CA (November 10) -- Brendan Gaughan captured his second NASCAR Winston
West Series championship
in grand fashion Saturday by winning the JaniKing 250 at Irwindale
Speedway in the series' final event. Gaughan won six of the
series' 14 races, and all three events held at Irwindale Speedway en
route to the series crown. Gaughan was just 40 points in front of Mark
Reed in the points chase entering the final race of the 2001 campaign,
the victory assured the Las Vegas native the coveted series
championship.
A stout 26-car field took the green flag Saturday with Sean
Woodside and Tim Woods III on the front row. But it was Bobby Dotter
who started in third taking the lead on the first circuit before Bill
Sedgwick moved into the lead on lap 3. Sedgwick's lead lasted until
lap 8 when ninth starter, Mark Reed made his move to the front. Reed
led until lap 30 when Brandon Ash took a turn at the point for a
single circuit.
Brendan Gaughan took over the race lead on lap 31 and would lead
the next 55 laps until Steve Portenga took his turn out front.
Portenga would lead until Ash regained the lead on lap 94, before
Gaughan regained the race lead on lap 114. But on lap 115, Tim Woods
III moved into the race lead.
Woods led until lap 129 when Ash moved back into the lead for the
third time. But on lap 137, Gaughan moved back into the race lead to
stay. Although there were 11 lead changes among seven drivers in the
first 137 laps, Gaughan wasn't in the sharing mood and led the final
114 laps to capture his sixth series win of the season and secure his
second consecutive series title.
Gaughan pocketed $14,700 for the victory after starting fourth in
the field. Finishing in second place was Brandon Ash, who collected
$9,275 for his efforts. Eighth starter, Scott Lynch, finished third
and collected $6,295. Rounding out the top five was Mark Reed in
fourth and Steve Portenga in fifth place. Gaughan's victory combined
with Mark Reed's fourth place finish gave Gaughan the championship by
60 markers after the final tally was complete. Austin Cameron was
third in the points standings with Steve Portenga in fourth and Eric
Norris in fifth. Amazingly, 14 of the 26 race starters ended
the event on the lead lap. The 250-lap event had seven caution
periods for just 36 laps. Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. was proud to be
the exclusive tire supplier to the NASCAR Winston West Series during
the exciting 2001 season and looks forward to serving as the exclusive
tire supplier during the upcoming 2002 season. |
