by Terry Jarrell

Brendan Gaughan Enjoys the Challenge Presented by Darlington Raceway: While Darlington presents one of the most demanding challenges on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup circuit, Gaughan appreciates the fortitude required to complete the races on that track.

“Darlington [Raceway] is one of the tracks on the circuit you hear tales about, but nothing adds up until you have actually raced on it,” Gaughan said. “From my first [NASCAR] Truck Series race, I knew the track was tough, but I also knew it was one of the tracks I wanted to succeed on.”

Gaughan’s Thoughts on SAFER Barriers at Darlington Raceway: While Gaughan appreciates the safety measures taken by track officials, he misses the 30 inches of racing surface.

“At Darlington, SAFER barriers are somewhat of a necessary evil. As a driver, I realize the benefits but when you already run close to 6 inches from the wall it is hard to accept a 30-inch SAFER barrier taking up precious racing surface. I know it wasn’t as much of a learning curve for me as for some of the guys, like Rusty Wallace, who have competed at Darlington for years. Regardless, I know I miss that extra track surface coming out of the turns.”

Words of Wisdom from Gaughan’s Mentor and Local Darlington Racing Legend, Buddy Baker: Throughout the 2004 season, Baker has given Gaughan words of wisdom. Two such phrases from Darlington are among Gaughan’s favorites.

After Gaughan hit the wall in the same place on approximately eight consecutive laps Baker said, “Hey man, why don’t you give that wall a break for a few laps”.

Following the checkered flag in March, Baker informed Gaughan, “In time, you’ll come to love this track like a long-legged blonde”.

Penske Racing South Employee to Compete in NASCAR Toyota All-Star Challenge at Irwindale Speedway Nov. 11-13: Jeff Fultz, a full-time fabricator with the No. 77 Kodak Racing team and regular competitor in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series, secured his invitation to the All-Star Challenge by winning the Southeast Series title. Fultz won five events in his dominant 2004 season on the way to his second championship in three years.

Fultz has completed in what has become the Southeast Division since 2000. (2004 –Champion; 2003 – 2nd; 2002 – Champion; 2001- 3rd; 2000 – 2nd) Fultz hopes to better his disappointing 37th-place finish at the 2003 All-Star Challenge.

Gaughan’s NASCAR Truck Series Darlington Raceway Statistics:

Date St. Fin. Status Status $ Won
14-Mar-03 9 3 147/147 (100%) Running $ 18,450
15-Mar-02 16 20 144/147 (97.9%) Running $ 7,065

Averages YTD Poles Wins Top-5s Top-10s Avg. St. Avg. Fin. $ Won
0 0 1 1 13th 12th $ 25,515

Equipment: Gaughan will race PRS-037 at Darlington Raceway. PRS-037 is the chassis Gaughan raced at Dover in September. (St. 25th/Fin. 22nd). The Kodak Racing team acquired PRS-37 from Ryan Newman’s ALLTEL Racing team. Prior to Dover, Newman raced the chassis at Las Vegas in 2003 (St. 3rd/Fin. 7th) and 2004 (St. 5th/Fin. 27th), as well as the 2003 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (St. 1st/Fin.5th).

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2004 RESULTS
NO. 77 KODAK DODGE

Date Track St. Fin LC/LT (%) Status Won
15-Feb-04 Daytona Beach, FL 17th 19th 199/200 (99.5%) Running $225, 887
22-Feb-04 Rockingham, NC 15th 20th 391/393 (99.4%) Running $ 70,110
07-Mar-04 Las Vegas, NV 8th 22nd 266/267 (99.6%) Running $ 83,450
14-Mar-04 Hampton, GA 25th 33rd 314/325 (96.6%) Running $ 63,120
21-Mar-04 Darlington, SC 37th 27th 291/293 (99.3%) Running $ 63,110
28-Mar-04 Bristol, TN 7th 20th 500/500 (100%) Running $ 81,900
04-Apr-04 Dallas, TX 16th 38th 230/334 ( 68.8%) Engine $ 72,000
18-Apr-04 Martinsville, VA 11th 17th 500/500 (100%) Running $ 70,450
25-Apr-04 Talladega, AL 20th 13th 188/188 (100%) Running $ 89,015
02-May-04 Fontana, CA 5th 6th 250/250 (100%) Running $ 106,125
16-May-04 Richmond, VA 42nd 34th 362/400 (90.5%) Running $ 66,375
30-May-04 Charlotte, NC 7th 33rd 392/400 (98%) Running $ 77,500
06-Jun-04 Dover, DE 5th 27th 361/400 (90.2%) Running $ 73,335
13-Jun-04 Pocono, PA 31st 39th 59/200 (29.5%) Engine $ 59,660
20-Jun-04 Brooklyn, MI 6th 16th 200/200 (100%) Running $ 74,065
27-Jun-04 Sonoma, CA 33rd 26th 110/110 (100%) Running $ 60,425
03-Jul-04 Daytona Beach, FL 12th 36th 138/160 (92.7%) Running $ 75,450
11-Jul-04 Joliet, IL 15th 30th 240/267(89.8%) Running $ 76,100
25-Jul-04 Loudon, NH 29th 22nd 300/300 (100%) Running $ 72,800
01-Aug-04 Pocono, PA 10th 28th 177/200 (88.5%) Accident $ 63,865
08-Aug-04 Indianapolis, IN 30th 35th 95/181(52.4%) Accident $124,925
15-Aug-04 Watkins Glen, NY 30th * 34th 74/90 (82%) Transmission $ 61,240
22-Aug-04 Brooklyn, MI 30th * 33rd 167/200 (83.5%) Engine $ 66,140
28-Aug-04 Bristol, TN 17th 35th 313/500 (62.6%) Accident $ 76,615
05-Sept-04 Fontana, CA 22nd 42nd 32/250 (12.8%) Accident $ 84,585
11-Sept-04 Richmond, VA 37th 27th 398/400 (99.5%) Running $ 68,005
19-Sept-04 Loudon, NH 32nd* 30th 296/300 (98.6%) Running $ 67,650
26-Sept-04 Dover, DE 25th 22nd 396/400 (99%) Running $ 72,565
03-Oct-04 Talladega, AL 26th 4th 188/188 (100%) Running $100,640
10-Oct-04 Kansas City, KS 13th 10th 267/267 (100%) Running $ 94,475
16-Oct-04 Charlotte, NC 16th 23rd 329/334 (98.5%) Running $ 69,375
24-Oct-04 Martinsville, VA 14th 34th 424/500 (84.8%) Running $ 62,020
31-Oct-04 Hampton, GA 25th 18th 323/325 (99.3%) Running $ 85,525
07-Nov-04 Phoenix, AZ 40th 30th 311/315 (98.7%) Running $ 59,925
14-Nov-04 Darlington, SC
21-Nov-04 Homestead-Miami, FL

* Qualifying cancelled- Field set by Owners’ Points
Averages YTD Poles Wins Top-5s Top-10s Avg. St. Avg. Fin. LC/TL (%) $ Won
0 0 1 3 21st 26th 9081/10,137 (89.6%) $ 2,718,427
BRENDAN GAUGHAN CURRENT DRIVERS’ POINTS: 28th
CURRENT OWNERS’ POINTS: 29th