Brendan Gaughan
Encyclopedia
Brendan Gaughan is an American
stock car driver. Gaughan is the grandson of Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan
and son of Michael Gaughan, a hotel and casino magnate. Gaughan currently drives the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Tundra
for Germain Racing
in the NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series. Gaughan formerly drove for his family owned team, Orleans Racing in the same series.
and played collegiate basketball as a walk-on for the Hoyas with friend and former Philadelphia 76ers
guard Allen Iverson
.
Gaughan earned All-Conference honors as a placekicker
on Georgetown's NCAA Division I-AA football team where he became known as an extra point specialist, converting 39 of 40 extra point attempts during the 1994 season for the highest extra point percentage in Hoya history. He was primarily a role player on the basketball team whose job were mostly practice related but did see action in 25 games.
A unique individual, he even sported corn rows in honor of his Hoyas teammate during a race at Dover International Speedway
during the 2002 Craftsman Truck Series season.
In 1995 he moved to SODA
(Short-course Off-road Drivers Association) series driving a Dodge Ram
from the Walker Evans
team. He was the 1995 Class 13 champion, he raced in Class 8 in 1996 and 1997, but did not win either championship (as Scott Taylor won both championships). He moved with most SODA drivers to CORR at the end of 1997 and raced in the Pro-2 category through 1998 where he finished 3rd behind champion Rick Johnson and Scott Taylor.
His biggest wins came at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
. His multiple wins there solidified his reputation as one of the premier off-road racers at the time with his most memorable battle coming between himself and future NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson
in 1996. The two dueled throughout the race with Johnson having to come from behind after being spun out by Scott Taylor. However, Johnson's truck succumbed to crash damage from a previous incident with Jimmie Crowder, and Gaughan took his first win at Crandon in a pro category. He followed the win with a repeat performance the next year at Crandon, this time piloting a Chevrolet.
. Driving the #20 Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge for Evans, he qualified 18th and finished 24th. He ran two races in 1998 with the 20 team, but he failed to finish both races. He also attempted his first Busch Race at Las Vegas, but he failed to qualify. In 1998, he was part of the Coca-Cola 500
at Twin Ring Motegi
in Japan and was involved in a crash that also collected Bobby Hamilton
.
He then decided to move to stock car racing. He ran in the Winston West Series
in 1999, and was the 2000 and 2001 champion on the circuit. In 2001, he made his Busch Series debut at Fontana for Ed Whitaker but finished 41st. The next week, he attempted his first Winston Cup race at Las Vegas, but failed to qualify. He also ran seven times in the Truck Series for Bill McNally and TKO Motorsports, and had two top-five finishes.
to two victories on his way to the Rookie of the Year
title. 2003 was Gaughan's career year. Driving the #62 Orleans Dodge for his father Michael, he won six times, including twice at Texas Motor Speedway
, giving him four consecutive wins at the track. He held the points lead for most of the season, but finished 4th in points after getting wrecked in the last race of the season by Marty Houston
, a teammate of one of Gaughan's rivals for the championship, Ted Musgrave
.
In 2004, Gaughan moved up to the NEXTEL Cup
, driving the #77 Eastman Kodak
Dodge
for Penske-Jasper Racing. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings, and 28th in the final points standings. He finished the season with 4 Top 10's including a career best fourth place finish at Talladega Superspeedway
. He was replaced at the end of the season by Travis Kvapil
.
. He finished 19th in the final points standings, with two Top 5 and 7 Top 10 finishes. Starting with the September 23 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
, the team began sport a new livery of the South Point Casino in which his father, Michael, is the owner.
In 2007, the South Point team switched to Chevrolet Silverado
s, where Gaughan returned to the manufacturer which he drove during his efforts in the AutoZone West championships. On August 18, 2007, he married his wife Tatum, finishing second at Bristol following his wedding. In 2008, South Point Racing was to merge with Wyler Racing
into Wyler-Gaughan Racing, fielding the #60 and #77 Toyotas. But the deal fell through and SPR was forced to close, leaving Gaughan and 10-12 of his crew members without a team. Gaughan signed to the drive #10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford F-150
for Circle Bar Racing
in the 2008 CTS season. He had five top-tens and finished fifteenth in points.
In 2009, Gaughan drove the #62 Chevy for Rusty Wallace Racing in the Nationwide Series. In 2010, Brendan drove again for RWR, but now in a Toyota, as RWR switched manufacturers at the end of the 2009. Gaughan also ran the November Phoenix Cup race for TRG Motorsports where he finished 43rd after a first lap crash. For 2011 Gaughan returned to the Camping World Truck Series, driving the #62 South Point Toyota for Germain Racing
while Michael Annett
replaces Gaughan at RWR.
On October 30, 2010, Brendan and Tatum welcomed baby boy Michael James.
In 2011, Gaughan appeared as a spokesperson for the South Point Casino in an episode of the History Channel series Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stock car driver. Gaughan is the grandson of Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan
Jackie Gaughan
John D. "Jackie" Gaughan, Sr. is a casino owner and operator from the early 1950s in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jackie is a native of Omaha, Nebraska who currently calls the El Cortez home. He is often seen daily on the El Cortez's modest size casino floor which begins at the hotel's front desk and main...
and son of Michael Gaughan, a hotel and casino magnate. Gaughan currently drives the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8 engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year...
for Germain Racing
Germain Racing
Germain Racing is an American NASCAR team. It is owned by the Germain brothers, Bob, Stephen, and Richard. The Germain family owns many car dealerships across the United States...
in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck Series. Gaughan formerly drove for his family owned team, Orleans Racing in the same series.
College
Gaughan attended Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and played collegiate basketball as a walk-on for the Hoyas with friend and former Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
guard Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
.
Gaughan earned All-Conference honors as a placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
on Georgetown's NCAA Division I-AA football team where he became known as an extra point specialist, converting 39 of 40 extra point attempts during the 1994 season for the highest extra point percentage in Hoya history. He was primarily a role player on the basketball team whose job were mostly practice related but did see action in 25 games.
A unique individual, he even sported corn rows in honor of his Hoyas teammate during a race at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
during the 2002 Craftsman Truck Series season.
Off-Road career
Gaughan won his first race in a 1991 SNORE (Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts) off-road race. He was the Class 10 SNORE champion in 1991, 1992, and 1993.In 1995 he moved to SODA
SODA (series)
The Short-course Off-road Drivers Association was an off-road racing sanctioning body in the United States.-History:...
(Short-course Off-road Drivers Association) series driving a Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
from the Walker Evans
Walker Evans (racer)
Roger Walker Evans is an Off-road Motorsports Hall of Famer . He was also a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Walker Evans is nicknamed "the Legend". Walker is the father of off-road racer Evan Evans...
team. He was the 1995 Class 13 champion, he raced in Class 8 in 1996 and 1997, but did not win either championship (as Scott Taylor won both championships). He moved with most SODA drivers to CORR at the end of 1997 and raced in the Pro-2 category through 1998 where he finished 3rd behind champion Rick Johnson and Scott Taylor.
His biggest wins came at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway
The Crandon International Off-Road Raceway is an off-road racing racetrack that has hosts the "World Championship Off-Road Races".-Location:The track is located west of Crandon, Wisconsin on U.S. Route 8.-Track layout:...
. His multiple wins there solidified his reputation as one of the premier off-road racers at the time with his most memorable battle coming between himself and future NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Kenneth Johnson is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports....
in 1996. The two dueled throughout the race with Johnson having to come from behind after being spun out by Scott Taylor. However, Johnson's truck succumbed to crash damage from a previous incident with Jimmie Crowder, and Gaughan took his first win at Crandon in a pro category. He followed the win with a repeat performance the next year at Crandon, this time piloting a Chevrolet.
Early career
Gaughan made his NASCAR debut in a Truck Series race in 1997 at Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
. Driving the #20 Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge for Evans, he qualified 18th and finished 24th. He ran two races in 1998 with the 20 team, but he failed to finish both races. He also attempted his first Busch Race at Las Vegas, but he failed to qualify. In 1998, he was part of the Coca-Cola 500
Coca-Cola 500 (Motegi)
The Coca-Cola 500 was an exhibition NASCAR stock car race of held on November 22, 1998, won by Mike Skinner. The race took place on the Twin Ring Motegi oval course in Motegi, Japan. It was the third straight year that NASCAR held an exhibition race in Japan, previously hosting races on the Suzuka...
at Twin Ring Motegi
Twin Ring Motegi
is an automobile racing track located at Motegi, Japan. Its name comes from the facility having two race tracks: a oval and a road course. It was built in 1997 by Honda, as part of Honda's effort to bring the IndyCar Series to Japan, helping to increase their knowledge of American open-wheel...
in Japan and was involved in a crash that also collected Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton
Charles Robert Hamilton, Sr. was a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit and the winner of the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Hamilton owned Bobby Hamilton Racing, which fielded three entries in each NCWTS event...
.
He then decided to move to stock car racing. He ran in the Winston West Series
NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West is a regional stock car racing division of NASCAR...
in 1999, and was the 2000 and 2001 champion on the circuit. In 2001, he made his Busch Series debut at Fontana for Ed Whitaker but finished 41st. The next week, he attempted his first Winston Cup race at Las Vegas, but failed to qualify. He also ran seven times in the Truck Series for Bill McNally and TKO Motorsports, and had two top-five finishes.
2002-2004
In 2002, Gaughan and his father fielded a team for himself in the Truck Series full-time. He drove the #62 NAPA Auto PartsNational Automotive Parts Association
The National Automotive Parts Association was founded in 1925 to meet America's growing need for an auto parts distribution system. It is a retailers' cooperative that distributes parts to both corporately and independently owned auto parts stores.NAPA's parent company is Genuine Parts Company , ...
to two victories on his way to the Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
title. 2003 was Gaughan's career year. Driving the #62 Orleans Dodge for his father Michael, he won six times, including twice at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, giving him four consecutive wins at the track. He held the points lead for most of the season, but finished 4th in points after getting wrecked in the last race of the season by Marty Houston
Marty Houston
Marty Houston, is a former driver in NASCAR. His younger brother, Andy and father Tommy Houston have driven in NASCAR as well.-Craftsman Truck Series Career:...
, a teammate of one of Gaughan's rivals for the championship, Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
.
In 2004, Gaughan moved up to the NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
, driving the #77 Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
for Penske-Jasper Racing. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings, and 28th in the final points standings. He finished the season with 4 Top 10's including a career best fourth place finish at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. He was replaced at the end of the season by Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil
Travis Kvapil is an American race car driver. He currently drives for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
.
2005-Present
In 2005, he moved back to the CTS, behind the wheel of the Jasper Engines & Transmissions/Orleans Racing #77 Dodge RamDodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
. He finished 19th in the final points standings, with two Top 5 and 7 Top 10 finishes. Starting with the September 23 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, the team began sport a new livery of the South Point Casino in which his father, Michael, is the owner.
In 2007, the South Point team switched to Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
s, where Gaughan returned to the manufacturer which he drove during his efforts in the AutoZone West championships. On August 18, 2007, he married his wife Tatum, finishing second at Bristol following his wedding. In 2008, South Point Racing was to merge with Wyler Racing
Wyler Racing
Turn One Racing is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. They currently field the #60 Red Bull/Fuel Doctor USA Chevrolet Silverado for Red Bull development driver Cole Whitt and the #66 GoPro Chevrolet Silverado for Justin Marks...
into Wyler-Gaughan Racing, fielding the #60 and #77 Toyotas. But the deal fell through and SPR was forced to close, leaving Gaughan and 10-12 of his crew members without a team. Gaughan signed to the drive #10 International MAXX Force Diesel Ford F-150
Ford F-Series
The F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks from Ford Motor Company which has been sold continuously for over six decades. The most popular variant of the F-Series is the F-150...
for Circle Bar Racing
Circle Bar Racing
Circle Bar Racing is an auto racing team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The team is owned by Tom Mitchell, and they hold the distinction of having one of the longest lasting teams in the Truck Series. They field the #14 Ford F-150...
in the 2008 CTS season. He had five top-tens and finished fifteenth in points.
In 2009, Gaughan drove the #62 Chevy for Rusty Wallace Racing in the Nationwide Series. In 2010, Brendan drove again for RWR, but now in a Toyota, as RWR switched manufacturers at the end of the 2009. Gaughan also ran the November Phoenix Cup race for TRG Motorsports where he finished 43rd after a first lap crash. For 2011 Gaughan returned to the Camping World Truck Series, driving the #62 South Point Toyota for Germain Racing
Germain Racing
Germain Racing is an American NASCAR team. It is owned by the Germain brothers, Bob, Stephen, and Richard. The Germain family owns many car dealerships across the United States...
while Michael Annett
Michael Annett
Michael Annett is an American racecar driver. He currently drives the #62 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry for Rusty Wallace Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series....
replaces Gaughan at RWR.
On October 30, 2010, Brendan and Tatum welcomed baby boy Michael James.
In 2011, Gaughan appeared as a spokesperson for the South Point Casino in an episode of the History Channel series Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy
Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy
Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy is a reality TV show on the History Channel. On January 26, 2010, the TV channel History announced it was ordering a series starring Larry the Cable Guy, titled Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, It premiered on February 8, 2011...
.