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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONCORD, NC (May 25, 2009)—On one of the Nationwide Series' biggest stages, Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength Chevrolet Impala SS) battled not only the competition, but also a bevy of quickly changing elements Saturday night, en route to a second-place finish in the Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.
While the effort marked the best finish of Gaughan's short Nationwide Series career and was his first career Nationwide Series top-five, it also nearly marked his first career victory as well.
When a lap 153 caution interrupted a cycle of green flag pit stops, great fuel mileage allowed Gaughan and the No. 1 of Mike Bliss to be only two cars on the lead lap, leaving it up to Gaughan and Bliss to battle for the victory over the race's remaining laps.
Gaughan restarted the race from the rear of the field on lap 162, after being the beneficiary of the caution period. Within two laps, he was on Bliss's rear bumper and took the lead on lap 165. Gaughan led laps 165 and 166, before Bliss slipped back by Gaughan's No. 62 on lap 167. The two battled over the next three laps, before the caution flag flew for rain on lap 170. Heavy rains ultimately left the race unable to be resumed.
With his second-place finish, Gaughan catapulted four spots, to 8th, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver standings. He also was named Rookie of the Race and re-assumed the lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings over Penske Racing's Justin Allgaier.
Meanwhile, for much of the event, it appeared as if it would actually be Gaughan's teammate, Steve Wallace (No. 66 USfidelis Chevrolet Impala SS), who would lead the RWR charge at Lowe's. Wallace ran among the top-15 for nearly the entire event and finally cracked the top-ten around lap 130.
Wallace remained among the top-ten until attempting a green-flag pit stop just prior to the lap 153 caution. Wallace's Chevrolet spun at the entrance to pit road, but avoided contact. At the same time, the caution flag flew while Wallace was on pit road, trapping the No. 66 one lap down to the leaders. He was subsequently cited for speeding while entering pit road and forced to start from the tail-end of the longest line, one lap down, on the restart just prior to the rains.
With his 17th place effort, Wallace fell one position, to 11th, in the driver standings. However, he sits just ten points from tenth-place and less than 100 points from sixth.
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About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC
Mooresville, NC-based Rusty Wallace Racing is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary history of its founder and one of NASCAR’s top-ten drivers of all-time, Rusty Wallace. In 2008, the team’s No. 64 entry was ranked among the top-ten overall in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. For 2009, the organization campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Chevrolets in the Nationwide Series. Its No. 66 entry is piloted by third-generation wheelman, Steve Wallace and its No. 62 wheeled by former NASCAR Truck Series Rookie of the Year, Brendan Gaughan. For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit rustywallace.com.
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