Brendan Gaughan makes the winning pass on Chase Elliott in Canada Corner at Road America in 2014. [John Wiedemann Photo]
ELKHART LAKE, Wis., August 26, 2015 – With race victories at a trio of major tracks in the state of Wisconsin, Brendan Gaughan is the envy of many drivers. Considering those wins occurred at different configurations makes the accomplishments more impressive.
Gaughan claimed wins at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway, including a memorable one in an off-road truck against future NASCAR Cup champ Jimmie Johnson in 1996. Gaughan’s NASCAR Truck Series victory at the Milwaukee Mile was one of six trucks victories for the driver in 2003.
More than a decade later, the Los Vegas native showed his prowess driving in wet conditions and pushed aside adversity to take the NASCAR XFINITY Series checkered flag last year at Road America.
“To me, the Triple Crown in Wisconsin is Milwaukee, Road America and Crandon — and I’ve got wins at all three,” Gaughan said. “Wisconsin has been a huge part of my career. I spent so much of my life racing across that great state.”
Gaughan will aim for back-to-back wins Saturday in the Road America 180 Fired Up By Johnsonville at the 14-turn, 4.048-mile road course. He’ll pilot the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing in the 182.4-mile, 45-lap event.
The 40-year-old said last year’s race – with good and bad moments — is one he’ll never forget. The race marked only the fourth time rain tires were used in race competition in NASCAR’s second-tier circuit, and the first time since 2008 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
Gaughan held the early lead a couple times at Elkhart Lake, and withstood a runoff that filled his grille with grass, and lack of windshield wipers to hold off Alex Tagliani with a 0.820-second margin of victory.
Strategy by crew chief Shane Wilson also proved helpful in the long run for the race that was delayed almost one hour due to rain, and extended by three laps. Gaughan said the win was particularly satisfying since he charged from the back to the front several times.
“You start to get that confidence up that you’re starting to pick off guys quick here,” he said. “It definitely gives you a big feel – your shoulders press back, grab that wheel and kind of get in that seat a little bit harder and say ‘I can take this now.’ That’s the feeling I had.”
Gaughan ran his first-ever race in the rain 20 years ago at Road America, and that past knowledge at RA provided a boost.
“I leaned heavily on that experience,” Gaughan said. “I’m good in the rain, and it definitely played in my favor (last year).
“Montreal was difficult for NASCAR drivers in the rain and I love it. It created a lot more havoc and headaches, so to speak, but Road America really stepped up well for the race. You can still get a lot of speed, you can still drive the hell out of the place. No offense, I’m hoping for rain again this year.”
Looks like Brendan will have to hold out another year as perfect weather is predicted for Saturday as NASCAR XFINITY drivers will compete at Road America for a sixth straight season, but officials made a couple tweaks this year. The race was moved to August from its traditional June date, and the event was trimmed 20 miles to a 182.4-mile distance.
The weekend is also an off-weekend for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, and Gaughan said he’s hopeful that several Cup racers make the trek to Elkhart Lake. “It helps when you have guys from Cup teams. It’s hopefully going to turn out well that they have a couple of those guys show up at Road America. It means a lot to the fans.”
Gaughan said he’ll always be a strong supporter of Road America, especially if NASCAR executives consider adding a road course besides Watkins Glen (N.Y.) and Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway to the Cup calendar.
Gaughan would immediately dial up team owner Richard Childress, if RA popped up on the schedule.
“If it was a weekend I was available, I would definitely call up Richard and say I want to run a Cup car that weekend,” Gaughan said. “For sure, I would want to go play there. I would love to race anything there – I don’t care what it is.”
The weekend begins with the annual hauler parade on Thursday afternoon as series team haulers will gather at Times Printing Company in nearby Random Lake, Wis., prior to their convoy to Road America.
The haulers will gather for the event between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Fans are invited to attend, free of charge. The Random Lake Fire Department will hold a brat fry fundraiser featuring Johnsonville brats on-site in conjunction with the event. The convoy to the track will be led by a Johnsonville semi and will depart around 5:30 p.m., following Hwy 57 north. After turning west on County Road J, the convoy will proceed north on Hwy 67 to Road America.
The green flag drops at 2:20 p.m., Saturday afternoon for the Road America 180 Fired Up by Johnsonville NASCAR XFINITY Series race, which will also be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network. Additional rounds for the SCCA Pro Trans-Am Series and Mazda MX-5 Series will fill up the action-packed weekend. Tickets are available and additional event details; ticket pricing and camping information can be found at www.roadamerica.com or by calling 800-365-7223. Kids 12 and under are free with an adult. Racing runs rain or shine.
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