WWS: Irwindale results

Brendan Gaughan put a giant exclamation mark on his 2001 season on Saturday night with a win in the JaniKing 250 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway - clinching his second consecutive NASCAR Winston West Series championship and sweeping all three series races this year at the Southern California track.

Gaughan, who entered the event with just a 40-point lead in the championship standings, clinched the championship by 60 points over series rookie Mark Reed, who finished the race in fourth.

Brandon Ash finished .825 of a second behind the leader, with Scott Lynch taking third. Reed was fourth, followed by Steve Portenga in fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Austin Cameron, Tim Woods III, Bobby Dotter, Eric Norris and Brett Thompson.

Gaughan became the first driver in nearly a decade to win back-to-back titles in the series.

<pre> JaniKing 250 Presented by NAPA NASCAR Winston West Series Irwindale, Calif. Nov. 10, 2001

Final leaders of Saturday's $108,628 NASCAR Winston West Series stock car race with driver's starting position in parenthesis, hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out if any and prize money.

1. (4) Brendan Gaughan, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, 75.063 mph, $14,700 2. (14) Brandon Ash, Umpqua, Ore., Ford Taurus, 250, $9,275 3. (8) Scott Lynch, Burley, Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $6,295 4. (9) Mark Reed, Bakersfield, Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 250, $5,125 5. (20) Steve Portenga, Sparks, Nev., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $4,800 6. (7) Austin Cameron, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $3,125 7. (2) Tim Woods III, Chino Hills, Calif., Ford Taurus, 250, $2,275 8. (3) Bobby Dotter, Chicago, Il, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $1,800 9. (13) Eric Norris, Dana Point, Calif., Ford Taurus, 250, $2,825 10. (17) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $2,380 11. (5) Bill Sedgwick, Acton, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $2,625 12. (19) Hershel McGriff, Portland, Ore., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $1,775 13. (16) Sammy Potashnick, Sikeston, Mo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $1,675 14. (15) Mike Duncan, Lamont, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 250, $1,700 15. (6) Joe Bean, San Diego, Calif., Ford Taurus, 249, $1,650 16. (1) Sean Woodside, Saugus, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 249, $2,700 17. (12) Brandon Miller, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 248, $1,050 18. (22) Neville Lance, Perth, Australia, Ford Taurus, 247, $1,025 19. (21) Todd Burns, Riverside, Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 247, $1,000 20. (24) DavyLee Liniger, Englewood,Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 246, $975 21. (23) Mike Grady, Farmington, N.M., Pontiac Grand Prix, 245, $1,325 22. (26) Kazuki Saito, Tokyo, Japan, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 244, $925 23. (25) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 156, Axle, $2,050 24. (18) Scott Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 155, $2,050 25. (10) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford Taurus, 127, Engine, $1,300 26. (11) Kevin Richards, Spokane, Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 14, Accident, $2,050

Did not qualify: (2) Jeff Barrister, Doug Bland Time of race: 1 hour 39 minutes 55 seconds Margin of victory: .825 seconds Caution flags: Seven for 36 (14-21, 23-25, 51-54, 113-118, 152-156, 194-198, 230-234)

Lap leaders: Sean Woodside-grid, Bobby Dotter 1-2, Bill Sedgwick 3-7, Mark Reed 8-29, Brandon Ash 30, Brendan Gaughan 31-86, Steve Portenga 87-93, Ash 94-113, Gaughan 114, Tim Woods III 115-128, Ash 129-136, Gaughan 137-250.

Eleven lead changes among seven drivers.

NASCAR Winston West Series Championship Standings: 1. Brendan Gaughan 2,257, 2. Mark Reed 2,197, 3. Austin Cameron 2,048, 4. Steve Portenga 1,983, 5. Eric Norris 1,945, 6. Sean Woodside 1,914, 7. Johnny Borneman 1,873, 8. Scott Gaylord 1,861, 9. Brandon Ash 1,852, 10. Bill Sedgwick 1,806.

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