Typically, when members of the Georgetown Men’s Basketball Team move on to the highest level of athletic competition, the NBA is the organization that comes to mind. Brendan Gaughan (MSB ‘97) a walk-on football player who also worked his way into becoming a teammate of Allen Iverson, recently began his rookie season racing NASCAR stock cars. After finishing fourth in the points standings for the 2003 Craftsman Truck Series, Gaughan made the jump to the high profile and lucrative Nextel (formally Winston) Cup Circuit. (https://aaluminum.com/)
Currently sitting in 22nd place in the 49-team field, Gaughan credits the modified points system for his very respectable standing.
“The new points system really helps the rookie drivers,” says Gaughan, trying to downplay his modest success.
Driving the No. 77 car, the Penske-Jasper backed team has began the year with two solid finishes. Gaughan’s debut took place at the hallowed Daytona raceway for the Daytona 500. His first pole, or race to determine starting position, yielded a starting spot of 17th, and Gaughan held on to finish 19th in the Super Bowl of Nascar. He followed this up by placing 20th in the Subway 400 in Rockingham, N.C. The experience of racing at Daytona is a feat in itself for many aspiring Nascar drivers, but Gaughan holds himself to even higher standards.
“We wish we would have done a lot better [at Daytona], but everything is new, and we’re just getting used to it all,” said Gaughan.
After securing new sponsorships from Kodak and Jasper, Gaughan has overcome one of the foremost obstacles in the motor sports industry—financing.
Focusing on his racing, the 29-year-old rookie has already made $295,997 in winnings earnings. The earnings mark an impressive improvement over the smaller competitions that paved the way to the Nextel circuit. He claimed two titles, in 2000 and 2001 racing on the Winston West circuit before he joined the Craftsman Truck Series.
The former Hoya field goal kicker who walked on for Coach Benson now hopes to win yet another Rookie of the Year award following the example of Dale Earnhardt Jr. who was awarded the honor last year. Coincidentally Earnhardt Jr. took home the inaugural race of the 2004 season, the Daytona 500.
Despite a strong start, Gaughan has a long way to climb to Earnhardt’s level, and must continue to prove his speed and attitude will be endearing to fans and fellow NASCAR drivers. To continue his string of success, Gaughan has worked hard to ensure that failure will not come from a lack of trying.
“We don’t say no to anything,” said Gaughan of his busy schedule. “We do every interview.”
Equally important to his up and coming status are his Penske teammates, who he credits for helping him adjust to the level of competition, and the NASCAR lifestyle in general.
“It’s like in any sport, you depend a lot on your teammates, and I have two great ones,” Gaughan said.
With little to root for this spring, downtrodden D.C. sports fans finally have a figure to cheer on beginning with the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7.
