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#62 Team Past News and Rumors
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- Cameron Wins - Amazing Comeback: Back in April it was announced that Winston West driver [how has attempted a few Cup races] was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma cancer. Austin Cameron could not drive in the races and was treated at Grossmont Cancer Center. Then about a month ago Cameron drove the #16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy at Irwindale Speedway in the “King Taco 200”. Cameron started 5th and finished 20th that night. This past Satruday night at Stockton 99 Speedway, Cameron won the race and moved up to 16th in the points standings.(Racing West)(8-20-2003)
- Evernham not changing drivers: There has been talk that Brendan Gaughan, who leads the Craftsman Truck Series in points and victories (four), might move to Cup racing in 2004, possibly with Evernham Motorsports. Though Gaughan, 28, tested for the organization in the past, team owner Ray Evernham says the next logical step for Gaughan would be the Busch Series. One thing is certain: Evernham has no intention of replacing Bill Elliott or Jeremy Mayfield next year. “For his age (47), Bill is one of the best drivers I've ever worked with, and he carries our deal on his back a lot of the time,” Evernham says. “I feel like I owe him a lot.” …(Sporting News)(8-20-2003)
- Gaughan to run some Cup races? Brendan Gaughan is tied for the points lead in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He might compete in a couple of Winston Cup races later this year. "We have the car," he said. "We just don't know if we have the money."(Dallas Morning News)(7-31-2003)
- Gaughan and Evernham? UPDATEs: some sources say that Brendan Gaughan's [#62 in the Truck Series] name has come up as an option for Evernham Motorsports if changes are made or they choose to run the third R&D car [#91 Dodge](3-22-2003)
UPDATE: .....a mention of CTS driver Brendan Gaughan as a possible driver for on of Evernham's three cars, brought this response from Gaughan: "I want to go to Winston Cup, we know that," Gaughan said. "But I don't ever want to hope that someone does bad. I'm rooting for all the other Dodge drivers. Right now I'm just worried about getting our team through this Craftsman Truck Series season. We're third in points -- two points out of second -- and that's right where we want to be at this point. I haven't heard anything about the rumor, but it's cool my name's out there. That's a bonus." ...(Las Vegas Review Journal)(3-28-2003)
UPDATE 2: Brendan Gaughan, one of the hottest drivers on NASCAR's Truck tour, is under consideration for a Winston Cup ride with Ray Evernham, according to sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-28-2003)
- Sad News - Get Well UPDATE Now GOOD News: Austin Cameron will not compete as the driver of the #16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet in Saturday’s Pontiac Wide Track Grand Prix 200 NASCAR Winston West Series event at California Speedway. Cameron was diagnosed earlier this week with lymphoblastic lymphoma cancer. Final results late yesterday determined that Cameron should not drive in the race this weekend. He is beginning treatment today at Grossmont Cancer Center. For fans who wish to send cards or express their support to Austin, the team asks that those be sent to the team shop at: 3630 Cincinnati Ave., Suite B, Rocklin, CA 95765.(Racing West)(4-23-2003)
UPDATE: NASCAR Winston West Series driver, Austin Cameron, will be piloting the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet and defending his win from last year at the Irwindale Speedway in the “King Taco 200”. Cameron and the #16 NAPA team are looking to repeat their strategy from last year and start out front and finish at the front to give NAPA AUTO PARTS a win in the 2003 season. Cameron, who has been recovering from an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, is well on his way to victory over his cancer and has the checkered flag in sight. Recently, Cameron tested at Irwindale and showed he was ready to reenter the championship fight.(Racing West and see the team website at www.bmrww.com)(7-23-2003)
- News to Gaughan: the rumor I had posted yesterday and the past few days; 'Evernham Changes' with a mention of CTS driver Brendan Gaughan as a possible driver for on of Evernham's three cars, brought this response from Gaughan: "I want to go to Winston Cup, we know that," Gaughan said. "But I don't ever want to hope that someone does bad. I'm rooting for all the other Dodge drivers. Right now I'm just worried about getting our team through this Craftsman Truck Series season. We're third in points -- two points out of second -- and that's right where we want to be at this point. I haven't heard anything about the rumor, but it's cool my name's out there. That's a bonus." ...(Las Vegas Review Journal)(3-28-2003)
- Evernham Changes? UPDATE 2: hearing some crew changes have occurred on the #9 and #19 Evernham Motorsports teams with the rear tire changers/carriers switching. Hearing there could be other changes coming, including Crew Chief (even though they do not use a 'crew chief' but a CART crew formula), Supposedly #19 Dodge driver, Jermey Mayfield is under some pressure to perform better or a change could be made there.(3-21-2003)
UPDATE: been told by sources that the rear tire changers/carriers have switched teams. Also some sources say that Brendan Gaughan's [#62 in the Truck Series[ name hass come up as an option for Evernham Motorsports if changes are made or they choose to run the third R&D car [#91 Dodge](3-22-2003)
UPDATE 2: Ray Evernham's teams are among the organizations that are struggling to get up to speed this season, so he's experimenting with the structure of his pit crews. Last week, the rear tire changer/carrier duo of Shane Russellberg and Bob Dowens on Bill Elliott's #9 Dodge swapped spots with Joe Singerland and Eric Wakeland on Jeremy Mayfield's #19. "I've got really good people," Evernham says. "I'm just trying to get them moved around and into the right place. We just hope that the chemistry will be better in areas we were weak." Evernham says those crew members will maintain their regular roles in the shop during the week. Elliott finished 18th and Mayfield 23rd at Bristol.(Sporting News)(3-24-2003)
- 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)
- California Testing: #40-Sterling Marlin was at California Speedway on Wednesday looking to improve his speed for a race that still is a month away. #49-Shawna Robinson also spent of the first off-week of the NASCAR season at the Fontana track and tried to wipe out painful memories of last year. Brendan Gaughan, 12th in the Craftsman Truck Series point scramble, also was on hand and trying to find answers about his unpainted Dodge. Together with BGN driver Greg Biffle, the quartet was at the Fontana track in preparation for the April 26-28 NASCAR weekend. Gaughan, who won the Winston West race at the track in 2001, can't decide if he will attempt to make the field for the April race. That decision could be reached soon. Gaughan said the truck series remains the priority, but the Orleans Racing team was at the point where he could put a few laps on the Dodge. "We're just testing and learn what we can," Gaughan said. "If things go well, we would love to try to show and race here. This program took a big back seat when we had to re-body the truck earlier this year. It's actually running good right now. We're semi-impressed."(Pasadina Star-News)(3-30-2002)
- Gaughan to run at California? FSN's Totally NASCAR reported Friday that CTS driver and 2000-2001 Winston West champ, Brendan Gaughan [#62 NAPA Dodge in the CTS] tested at California Speedway this past week in a Cup car and may run the April 28th Californai Speedway Cup race(3-30-2002)
- Gaughan cancels Vegas: Brendan Gaughan [#62] has cancelled his NASCAR Winston Cup test next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gaughan, who will be running a full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule this year, said he will not attempt to qualify for the March 3 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Winston Cup race at LVMS because his Orleans Racing team is concentrating on the truck program.(Las Vegas Sun)(1-26-2002)
- Gaughan to attempt Las Vegas: Brendan Gaughan(#62 team), was making his first laps in a 2000 Chevy that his Orleans Racing Team has leased from Richard Childress Racing. Gaughan also secured Childress engines for testing and qualifying. If the defending Winston West stock-car champion becomes one of the 43 to start the Las Vegas Cup race, he'll use a race engine from Childress. The first adjustment the team had to make to the car was in the steering, which was originally set up for Earnhardt. Gaughan said he had never driven a car so loose(Las Vegas Review Journal)(1-30-2001)
- Gaughan to run many series: Winston West driver Brendan Gaughan said his plans for 2001 include a full season in the Winston West series another five truck series races, a pair of ARCA races, two Winston Cup events (at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Sears Point Raceway) and the NASCAR Busch Series race at LVMS(Las Vegas Sun). Gaughan planned to attempt the 2000 Vegas race in the #62 NAPA Auto Parts/The Orleans Casino Chevy but couldn't get the car ready in time(12-8-2000)
- Graves back to Cup..for a race UPDATE 3: hearing Brendan Gaughan's Cup debut(#62 Team) will not happen at Vegas and will be delayed(2-24-2000)
UPDATE: Orleans Racing has made a last-minute decision not to enter next weekend's CUP race at Las Vegas, delaying the debut of Brendan Gaughan. The reason: rain. The team was not able to secure a testing date as rain left only a few open test dates which were booked by the IRL. Gaughan was able to sneak onto the track for a brief shakedown session Thursday morning with one of the team's Winston West engines in the new car and chassis, but some minor bugs were discovered. The team will focus on qualifying for the April 30 Cup race at California(Las Vegas Review)(2-25-2000)
UPDATE 2: Looks like the team will not run the Cup race at California. They are not listed on the NOL Entry list and a story in the LA Times, mentions Gaughan will run the Winston West ran but no mention of the Cup race. Also no mention of the Cup race on the teams site: Orleans Racing(4-26-2000)
UPDATE 3: Gaughan's Orleans Racing team, which is owned by Bill McAnally and Michael Gaughan, had planned on entering next weekend's NASCAR Winston Cup race in Fontana, Calif., but decided to delay its debut in that series. "We're not going to show up and make fools out of ourselves, and we don't need to spend the money and effort to go there and not have our stuff together," Brendan Gaughan said. "I'm a big believer in trying and not giving up, but we don't want to go there and do more harm than good."(Las Vegas Review Journal)(4-27-2000)
- Graves back to Cup..for a race UPDATE: NASCAR Winston West regular Brendan Gaughan will try his hand at NASCAR Winston Cup racing with former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Andy Graves in the CarsDirect.com 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race on March 5 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Gaughan, a 24-year old Las Vegas native, is the full-time driver for Orleans Racing, which is located in LVMS's Research and Development Center. The state-of-the art race shop is home to a full-time NASCAR Winston West team, part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck team and the future home of a cutting-edge engine building complex. Graves, who joined Chip Ganassi's CART team this year after a 10-year history with Hendrick Motorsports, will assist the team with building its 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, advise them on race and qualifying setups and act as crew chief on race day. The car will be the #62 NAPA Auto Parts/The Orleans Casino Chevrolet(LVMS PR)(2-8-2000) -- UPDATE: hearing Gaughan's Cup debut will not happen at Vegas and will be delayed(2-25-2000)