Gaughan To Back-Up Truck For Race at St. Louis

A crash in final practice in turn two at Gateway International Raceway on Friday night forced the South Point Racing team to pull out their back-up No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado for tomorrow's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.

Gaughan, who had finished second in first practice, said he was trying to get a little more out of a truck that he was very pleased with on the race track.

"In the second practice, I was a little too tight at the start. I brought the South Point/Casino Queen Chevrolet in for a shock adjustment and it made the truck a lot better," Gaughan said. "I went out there and tried to do my job, and I pushed it a little too hard. This was 100 percent driver error.

Although Gaughan did not get any practice time in the back-up truck, he is confident in his equipment and his South Point Racing team and looking forward to the race.

"What I can say with absolute confidence is that our back-ups are as good as our primary trucks," Gaughan said. "I gave the boys some extra work to do, but I still expect us to qualify in the top five and I still believe that we can go out there and win this race in our back-up truck.

"I apologize to my race team because I know how hard they work, and to the fans. I tried to push it, and I just pushed it a little too hard."

Per NASCAR rules the team unloaded the back-up truck prior to qualifying and will be allowed to keep their qualifying starting spot rather than fall to the back of the field.

Gaughan will qualify his No. 77 South Point/Casino Queen Chevrolet tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT, and the Ram Tough 200 begins at 4:30 p.m. CT.