NASCAR 2004: Gaughan’s career bloomed in desert

Thursday, March 4, 2004 | 10:40 a.m.

Brendan Gaughan exudes so much confidence that some who don't know him might call him "cocky."

Throughout much of his racing career, however, Gaughan has been able to walk the walk while he talks the talk.

A second-generation desert racer, Gaughan has been winning since the first time he hopped behind the wheel of an off-road buggy. At the age of 15, Gaughan won the first desert race he ever entered -- the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts (SNORE) Twilight 200.

Gaughan, the son of Las Vegas casino magnate Michael Gaughan and the grandson of local gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan, spent four years at Georgetown University, where he played basketball under coach John Thompson and also was a placekicker for the Hoyas' football team. He was graduated from Georgetown in 1997 with a degree in business management.

Gaughan racked up 41 victories and five off-road championships in seven seasons before moving to the pavement in 1998. In five starts in the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1998, Gaughan posted two top-five finishes. Midway through the 1999 season, the hard-charging Gaughan was better known for his spectacular crashes than spectacular finishes.

But after a fiery crash at California Speedway in 1999, Gaughan said he learned how to "go faster by slowing down" and finished the season with five consecutive top-10 finishes.

The following season, Gaughan posted two victories and 11 top-10 finishes in 12 starts and won his first Winston West championship. Not happy with merely winning the title, Gaughan vowed to dominate the series the following season. He did, winning six of 14 races and repeating as the series champion.

Gaughan and his Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing team moved up to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2002 and won two races -- both at Texas Motor Speedway -- and was named the Rookie of the Year.

Last season, Gaughan led the Truck Series with six victories, including two wins at Texas Motor Speedway and one at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and led the championship for eight consecutive weeks heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Gaughan appeared to have the title wrapped up until he was collected in a multi-truck crash with 33 laps remaining. He finished fourth in the standings.

Gaughan had planned to return to the Truck Series this season until he received an offer he couldn't refuse. Renowned auto racing team owner Roger Penske bought into the Jasper Racing team, secured sponsorship from Kodak, and hired Gaughan to drive the No. 77 Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series.

Gaughan, one of the most exuberant drivers in the NASCAR garage, opened the season with a 19th-place finish in the Daytona 500 and took 20th two weeks ago at North Carolina Speedway. He returns home to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend ranked 22nd in points but -- as always -- loaded with confidence.