BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- Brendan Gaughan ran the fastest race in
NASCAR Craftsman Truck series history and continued his domination
of the circuit by winning Saturday at Michigan International
Speedway.
Gaughan averaged 154.044 mph in the Sears 200, his second
consecutive victory and fourth in the last seven races. The speed
easily eclipsed the previous record of 144.260 by Kurt Busch at
California Speedway in 2000.
The victory moved Gaughan to the top of the series standings
halfway through the season. Gaughan and Travis Kvapil have 2,000
points each, but Gaughan is leader on the strength of his four
wins.
Gaughan, who started sixth in a Dodge, took the lead for the
final time on the 80th of 100 laps on the 2-mile track after a
round of green-flag pit stops. He extended a nine-second advantage
to a final margin of victory of 11.477 -- nearly a quarter of a lap
-- over Ted Musgrave, who also drove a Dodge.
The margin of victory was third-largest in series history.
"I didn't see much," Gaughan said of those attempting to catch
him during the final-lap sprint. "There wasn't any reason to look
back when you're that good."
Gaughan led 48 of 100 laps in a race slowed just once for six
laps of caution.
Chad Chaffin finished third to match his best performance in the
series. Polesitter Jason Leffler was next as Dodges swept the first
four positions. Rookie points leader Carl Edwards was fifth in a
Ford.
Jon Wood, Kvapil, Dennis Setzer, Terry Cook and Bobby Hamilton
completed the top 10. There were 10 lead changes among eight
drivers.
Sears 200 Results
At Michigan International Speedway
Pos.
Start
Driver
Make
Laps
Winnings
1.
6
Brendan Gaughan
Dodge
100
$47,850
2.
3
Ted Musgrave
Dodge
100
$31,475
3.
2
Chad Chaffin
Dodge
100
$22,975
4.
1
Jason Leffler
Dodge
100
$16,100
5.
4
Carl Edwards
Ford
100
$14,600
6.
7
Jon Wood
Ford
100
$12,625
7.
18
Travis Kvapil
Chevrolet
100
$12,475
8.
15
Dennis Setzer
Chevrolet
100
$12,700
9.
9
Terry Cook
Ford
100
$12,600
10.
11
Bobby Hamilton
Dodge
100
$13,875
11.
5
Bill Lester
Dodge
100
$12,275
12.
14
Rick Crawford
Ford
100
$12,140
13.
8
David Starr
Chevrolet
100
$12,065
14.
12
Robert Pressley
Dodge
100
$12,015
15.
10
Mike Skinner
Dodge
99
$12,415
16.
30
Randy Briggs
Ford
98
$11,940
17.
21
Chris Horn
Chevrolet
98
$10,840
18.
13
Eric Jones
Chevrolet
97
$10,815
19.
35
Doug Keller
Chevrolet
96
$11,015
20.
25
Jerry Hill
Dodge
96
$10,590
21.
28
Loni Richardson
Chevrolet
95
$9,465
22.
36
Ricky Sanders
Ford
94
$9,415
23.
23
Jody Lavender
Chevrolet
93
$10,390
24.
33
Jamie Aube
Chevrolet
73
$10,365
25.
16
Matt Crafton
Chevrolet
66
$10,340
26.
19
Johnny Chapman
Chevrolet
40
$9,315
27.
17
Lance Hooper
Ford
35
$9,290
28.
29
Randy MacDonald
Chevrolet
27
$9,265
29.
22
Stan Boyd
Chevrolet
25
$9,240
30.
26
Jonathon Price
Chevrolet
21
$9,215
31.
27
Ryan McGlynn
Chevrolet
10
$9,190
32.
24
Phil Bonifield
Chevrolet
7
$9,165
33.
31
GJ Mennen
Dodge
4
$9,140
34.
20
Kenny Hendrick
Ford
2
$9,115
35.
32
Aaron Daniel
Ford
2
$9,090
36.
34
Rick Ware
Chevrolet
0
$9,065
Race statistics Time of race: 1 hour, 17 minutes, 54 seconds. Margin of victory: 11.477 seconds. Caution flags: 1 for 6 laps. Lead changes: 10 among 8 drivers. Lap leaders: J.Leffler 0; T.Musgrave 1-10; C.Edwards 11-28;
T.Kvapil 29; L.Hooper 30-33; J.Leffler 34-39; J.Wood 40-46;
B.Gaughan 47-73; C. Edwards 74-77; B.Lester 78-79; B.Gaughan
80-100. Top 10 points: B.Gaughan, 2,000; T.Kvapil, 2,000; T.Musgrave,
1,969; D.Setzer, 1,921; R.Crawford, 1,890; J.Wood, 1,876;
B.Hamilton, 1,868; J.Leffler, 1,852; T.Cook, 1,754; C.Edwards,
1,687.
