One-on-one questions and answers

Driver, No.77 Dodge for Penske-Jasper Racing Company

"This is what the fans want to see."

Story and digital images by Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

A crash at Homestead may have kept Brendan Gaughan from the 2003 Craftsman Truck championship, but one bad moment hasn't kept him from using all the tools he has to mold the future. Gaughan stepped out of a NASCAR Craftsman truck and into a NASCAR Nextel Cup car within days of this interview.

Keeping up with Brendan Gaughan takes energy because is seems like he is about to peak on a high amp fuse every minute or so, even when he's not driving. His winning ways in racing are testimony to inner and outer sparks that keep him going. You don't have to plug into anything to get his spirit. A few of his energetic thoughts are but a few words away.

"It's a great race track. They've spent a lot of money that the fans wanted to watch. It's more of a race. From what I understand they've already sold more tickets which means it's money well spent and the fans are going to show up. Right now you can run almost all the way to the white line and al the way to the wall. They did a hell of a job on this place. It's going to be one fantastic racetrack. "

"Nah. This is what the fans want to see. This is fun. This is the way fans always want it. Sure, we'd like to have a bigger lead. That's what everybody goal is. It's a lot of fun right now coming to the last race. The fans get a great look at a fantastic point battle. That's what they deserve. That's what they come to watch. That's what they want to see. Even in the Cup race second through fifth is really tight. There's lots of stuff worth coming here this weekend to watch. I think we're one of the best examples."

Oh, I want to go to Nextel Cup, but right now I'm happy we have a team that can win championships. It's out team. We built it. We put the hard work into it. We're happy. We've got a great opportunity. We've got Dodge now. We need a sponsor and then we'll look at things. Until then I can't look."

Gaughan didn't have to look long. Roger Penske and the Penske-Jasper Racing Company put him behind the wheel of the No. 77 Dodge for the NASCAR Nextel Cup 2004 season.

"Watch out for Scott Lynch. Watch out for both of us."

When I told Brenden I've interviewed hundreds of racers and it's my belief that he has the whole package of driving skills, image and especially articulation --- his eyes sparkled.

"Thanks." Gaughan said. "I owe a lot to Georgetown University and Coach Thompson."