Late-race accident costs Gaughan championship

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Conventional NASCAR wisdom says a non-Charlotte, N.C.-based racing team hasn't a chance of winning a championship.

But for the past 40 weeks, Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing looked conventional NASCAR wisdom square in the eye and laughed.

If only they'd gotten one more week.

FORD 200 Kvapil wins the championship by nine points Play video Bobby Hamilton celebrates his second win of '03. Play video Gaughan loses the points lead after hitting the wall Play video Gaughan is visibly upset after the wreck Play video Musgrave is angry after losing the championship Play video  •  Results  •  Tools of the Trade

Brendan Gaughan entered the Craftsman Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway Friday with a 26-point lead over Ted Musgrave in a points race that could potentially land any one of four drivers in the champion's chair.

But as the Ford 200 neared the hundred-lap mark, Gaughan weaved the Orleans Dodge in-and-out of traffic, at times attempting four-wide passes on the newly reconfigured HMS oval.

Needless to say, he wasn't just cruising along hoping to hold onto the points lead. He was on the verge of a championship, but driving like he was in hot pursuit, not like he was the individual being pursued.

Then, on lap 101, Gaughan was racing in the top 10 when Marty Houston got loose in Turn 4, and in the effort to correct it hit Gaughan in the right rear.

Gaughan spun head-first into the front stretch wall, and after sliding back down the track surface was t-boned just behind the driver's side door area by Brian Reffner, eliminating him from the race and ending his bid for the 2003 title.

"I'm pretty calm most of the time," said a dejected Gaughan as he emerged from the infield care center. "We had a Dodge that could win the championship. Jimmy Smith can kiss my ass."

Gaughan's frustration towards Smith, a Dodge team owner, stems from Smith's decision to enter five trucks in Friday's event - including Houston's.

"Tire changers maybe shouldn't be racecar drivers anymore," Gaughan said. "I just don't want to be mean to Marty Houston. He's a friend. He's a great racecar driver and a nice kid, but Dodge maybe should think twice before they put five of them out there.

"The only ones out there in those trucks I like are Ted (Musgrave) -- go Ted. I gotta root for Dodge now. I hope he goes and does it. PJ Jones is a great friend of mine and deserves to be in a ride. The rest of them? I don't know..."

	Gaughan and eventual champion Travis Kvapil battle for position early in the race. Credit: Autostock

Musgrave ended up suffering ill fortune of his own, as he was black flagged with less than two laps remaining, therefore handing the championship to Travis Kvapil.

"You hate it for those guys," Kvapil said of Gaughan and his team. "They did everything they needed to do this year, and he was going to win the championship if he didn't get wrecked like that. You hate to win championships like that, but it's part of racing, and why we race to the checkered (flag)."

When the dust cleared Friday, Gaughan had finished 29th in the race and fourth in the overall standings. He never led during the 134-lap event, but he was certainly in position to win the title.

"I think we proved today that nobody could beat us," Gaughan said. "We were fast. We ran this entire year unsponsored. Dodge was the only thing that helped us, and American Racing Wheels. I'm so proud of this team.

"I love these guys to death. Jimmy Smith, I've known since I was six years old. He's been a dear friend. It's just part of racing. It's what we do. We'll go back, rebuild our Dodges and come back stronger. Nobody's going to touch us next year."