Gaughan to attempt California..in Cup UPDATE: Brendan Gaughan will attempt to qualify for the April 28 Winston Cup race at California Speedway, Orleans Racing general manager Shane Wilson said Monday. Gaughan tested a new Dodge Intrepid at the 2-mile oval last week and Wilson said the team was pleased with Gaughan’s lap times. “By the time we left (California Speedway), we were within two-and-a-half tenths of Sterling Marlin’s lap times so we felt pretty good with the test,” Wilson said. Wilson said he was working with NAPA Auto Parts — Gaughan’s sponsor in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series [#62 Dodge] — and the Orleans to put together sponsorship for the race.(Las Vegas Sun), see some past news and rumors on this on my #62 Team News and Links page.(4-3-2002) UPDATE: When the NAPA Auto Parts 500 kicks into action at California Speedway, April 28, Brendan Gaughan and Orleans Racing will be set to make their NASCAR Winston Cup debut. “We tested our new Cup car at Fontana last week,” said Gaughan who pilots the #62 NAPA/Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge in the CTS. “And, we were very pleased with the results. We didn’t want to go there just to run in the back of the field. We wanted to be certain we could be competitive and the testing proved we are right in the Ball Park. California Speedway will be an excellent track for us to debut our #62 NAPA AUTO CARE/Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge,” say team owners Michael Gaughan and Bill McAnally.” Gaughan, the two-time NASCAR Winston West Champion (2000 and 2001) moved into the CTS at the start of this season. Currently sitting in 12th in the point’s battle after two events, he also is ranked 2nd in the Rookie-of-the-Year standings, just two points out of the lead. “Running in the NASCAR Winston Cup race will be a great learning experience for our entire team,” said Orleans Racing general manager and crew chief Shane Wilson. “What we learn at Fontana will definitely benefit our truck effort. The more experience we can get, the better we will be and that is what we are striving for.”(PR)(4-4-2002)
