Truck Series drivers look to lasso Texas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In October 2002, Brendan Gaughan became the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver to win two consecutive races at Texas Motor Speedway.

Now, Gaughan takes aim at matching one of the series' most elusive records: three straight victories at the same track.

Only one competitor -- Jack Sprague -- has achieved a "three-peat." Sprague, who went on to capture three series titles, won his first Truck Series race on April 21, 1996 at Phoenix International Raceway.

ALSO  •  NCTS Drivers  •  2003 Driver Standings

Sprague, now a Raybestos rookie contender on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, added another win when the series returned to the desert in November and went to victory circle yet again at Phoenix in April 1997.

The feat has gone unmatched since. Ironically, Sprague was the last to take a shot at his own record, finishing 31st at California Speedway in his 170th and -- to date -- last NCTS start after posting back-to-back wins there in 1998 and '99.

Gaughan takes his turn Friday night when he defends his victory in the O'Reilly 400K. The Las Vegas native was the ninth different winner in 10 NCTS races at the 1.5-mile speedway.

Ted Musgrave could also join the select group Sept. 20, while Dennis Setzer could also be included following the season's second race at Martinsville Oct. 18.

Gaughan isn't looking in the mirror, even though he's finished second, first and first in his past three trips to Fort Worth.

"What winning means is that everyone on your entire team is firing on all eight cylinders," he said. "In short, you can put everything together and basically create your own luck."

Gaughan had an up-and-down 2002 season. He won twice and became the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Conversely, he finished outside the top 10 in the final point standings -- and wasn't at all pleased.

Although his most recent race at Dover International Speedway was cut short by an accident, Gaughan continues to rank fourth in the championship chase on the strength of three top-five finishes. He believes lightning could strike a third time at Texas Motor Speedway.

"Well, I'm from Las Vegas so I grew up in a town built on odds, not luck, but odds," said Gaughan. "If I flip a quarter nine times and it comes up tails nine times, what are the odds of the next toss coming up tails? The answer is 50-50. Just because it has come up tails nine times doesn't mean that a head is due. Your odds are 50-50 every time. At Texas this time we have exactly the same chance (as a year ago)."

Actually, Gaughan said, the odds might be better than 50-50.

"That's because we are more prepared and a better, more experienced team," he said.

Sears to sponsor July series event at Michigan

The July 26 series race at Michigan International Speedway becomes the Sears 200. The mid-summer weekend has a festival atmosphere, with live music and infield carnival rides accompanying the racing action.

Leffler, Team ASE Racing droughts over

Jason Leffler happily relinquished the record of most second-place finishes without a victory when he won the May 30 MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 at Dover International Speedway. Leffler finished in the runnerup position six times in 2002. Scott Riggs scored the team's last victory in August 2001 at Chicago Motor Speedway.

Welcome back with a win

Ultra Motorsports' new crew chief, Dennis Connor, posted victory No. 24 on the series -- and first without Sprague, with whom Connor won three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series titles. That duo's last win came in September 2001 at Richmond International Raceway.

Final word on Ultra Motorsports

Dover was win No. 27, one shy of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series record held by Roush Racing.

Just two competitors perfect after six races

It isn't difficult to see why Bobby Hamilton and Rick Crawford stand one-two in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. Hamilton and Crawford are the only drivers to have completed all 1,128.802 miles run in 2003.

Convergence could work in Terry Cook's favor

Terry Cook hasn't won at Texas Motor Speedway, but is surrounded by those who have. His K Automotive team won in 1999 with Setzer and crew chief Rick Ren quarterbacked 2001 fall winner Travis Kvapil.

Starr looking for fifth straight top-five in O'Reilly 400K

David Starr counts four consecutive top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway -- three thirds and a fourth. Crawford also has finished among the top five four times but not in succession. Seven different drivers -- including Gaughan, Kvapil and Setzer -- count a trio of top-five postings.

Texas is good prospecting for rookies

Rookie competitors have won four races at Texas Motor Speedway. Kenny Irwin started the trend by beating fellow rookies Boris Said and Crawford in 1997. Kvapil and Gaughan followed. Not surprisingly, all won Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. No other track on the current schedule has more than a single rookie winner.

Quotebook

"I just got impatient. I pressured him and he spun, and I spun to miss him and took myself out of the race. It was a real learning experience for me."

-- Jason Leffler, on his 27th-place finish in last year's O'Reilly 400K

"It's easy sometimes to be the driver. Last week, when I crashed on race morning, I had to go out and entertain at hospitality, which is not that hard. While I was out there, my guys worked their butts off getting the backup truck ready to race. When I got back to the transporter and saw the looks of exhaustion on their faces, there's not much you can say other than 'thanks.'"

-- Bill Lester, whose 11th-place finish at Dover duplicated his career best effort in last year's O'Reilly 400K.

"If you can get through the corners, then you'll have a fast truck at that place."

-- Chad Chaffin, on racing at Texas Motor Speedway

"Without sounding cocky, I think we're getting close to putting everything together for a win. Texas is a good place for first-time winners."

-- Jon Wood

"Everybody drives pickup trucks in Texas and they like to come out and see us race the trucks."

-- David Starr

"It's not that we are out there racing every weekend for the points championship but we are trying to race smart."

-- Bobby Hamilton, who's led all six races in 2003.

From the archives

Four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race winners at Texas Motor Speedway have gone on to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series -- three of them active competitors. In fact, Greg Biffle, Tony Raines and Jack Sprague currently are battling for 2003 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.