Firming up reports that Craftsman Truck contender Brendan Gaughan will drive for a third Penske Racing team in 2004, Gaughan has been listed as driver for the #77 team in season-opening tests next week at Daytona International Speedway. Although no official announcements have been made, for whatever reasons, it has been rumored for a month that Penske would acquire, or become partner, in the #77 team heretofore owned by Jasper Engines principal Doug Bawel. Penske and Jasper had developed an increasingly close relationship, beginning in engine development, over the past year or so. Kodak, 15-year sponsor of the Morgan-McClure team, was known to be on the move in October and had examined possibilities with several top racing organizations. Apparently, the company has reached agreement with Penske, although details are not final. Kodak, reports indicate, would become sponsor of the #77, which would become a team car with the #2 of Rusty Wallace and the #12 of Ryan Newman, currently in the Penske stable. How Gaughan entered the picture is not clear. Gaughan, 28, has run two full seasons in Trucks, contending for the championship last season with his Las Vegas-based team, owned by his father, casino/hotel magnate Michael Gaughan. Gaughan led the circuit with six race victories but was knocked out of the title hunt in an early wreck in the season finale at Miami/Homestead. Penske has developed his two current stock-car teams via acquisition, taking over the debt-ridden Raymond Beadle organization in 1991 (with Wallace) and connecting with the former Newman-Haas team in 2000, transforming it into a vehicle for young Newman, who led the Cup circuit in wins and poles last season. The Gaughan/77 entry offers an interesting opening to the 2004 news season, with testing beginning Jan. 6. Teams which finished last season in the odd-numbered positions (1-3-5 etc.) in the owner points will test Jan. 6-8. The even-numbered finishers (2-4-6 etc.) will have the track Jan. 13-15. The NASCAR part of Speedweeks opens with Daytona 500 pole qualifying Feb. 7. The Daytona 500, which honestly opens the 2004 season, is Feb. 15..( Speed Channel ), more on Gaughan/Kodak/Penske to the #77 rumor on my #77 Team News and Links page .(1-3-2004)
