Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.
In what might be construed as the first step in a plan to replace driver Brendan Gaughan should he elect to move to the NASCAR Busch or Nextel Cup series next year, Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing will field a second truck for driver Scott Lynch in next weekend's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Lynch, 23, has received support from Orleans Racing this season in his NASCAR Winston West effort and recently moved to Las Vegas to work in the team's race shop. Lynch has two Winston West victories this season and is second in the points standings, 13 points behind leader Steve Portenga, with four races remaining.
Although the Sept. 27 Las Vegas 350 will mark Lynch's Truck Series debut, it will not be his first experience on the LVMS 1.5-mile superspeedway. Lynch earned his first career Winston West victory in October at LVMS after qualifying fourth for the 100-lap race.
"This will be a great opportunity for me," Lynch said Tuesday. "I need to get some experience in the trucks because it is a totally different feel from the (Winston West) car. We hope to go out there and qualify in the top 20 and finish in the top 20 and put on a good show for the home crowd."
Gaughan, who is the NCTS points leader going into Saturday's race at California Speedway, said he is not actively seeking a Busch or Nextel Cup ride for next season but did not rule out the possibility that he could leave Orleans Racing, which is owned by his father, casino magnate Michael Gaughan.
"We've had (a plan) in place all along in case I got a ride," Gaughan said. "Right now, for me, we are planning on doing what we're doing right now -- working on getting a sponsor, working on getting our manufacturer back. Once we can get that, then I'll be pretty happy."
But if Gaughan isn't able to secure a sponsor, or if Dodge cannot provide the financial commitment it is giving the team this season, Gaughan said it might be time to explore other options.
"Right now, I'm not really looking to run a Cup deal," he said. "I'd be fine without going to Cup next year ... I'd be fine doing another year in the Craftsman Trucks if I had everything signed and sealed and my race team solid for a couple years -- without it being touch and go without a sponsor.
"If I don't, then I may have to go. I have some pretty good offers from some Busch teams and truck teams that I could go to that would be very nice. If this team was insecure, I would leave, but right now this team is not insecure. But you have to have a plan, just in case."
Lynch said he would be honored if he were considered to replace Gaughan if and when the native Las Vegan decides to move up the NASCAR ladder.
"I would do anything I possibly could to drive for Mr. Gaughan," Lynch said. "I would love to be able to step in and keep their spirits up with this team -- it would be one of the greatest opportunities of a lifetime.
"But right now, my goal is to get some experience in the truck. Right now, this is a Vegas-only deal but hopefully, if things go well, maybe we can do one or two more (truck) races this season. If not, we're looking at maybe next year doing five or six races."
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