Orleans Racing (also known as South Point Racing), was a NASCAR team that competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR West Series. It was owned by businessman Michael Gaughan for most of its existence, although others have had a partial interest in the team. The team fielded the No. 62 and No. 77 Dodges for Michael's son, Brendan, fellow West Series driver Scott Lynch, and former Nextel Cup driver Steve Park. The team was notable for being the only NASCAR team based in the state of Nevada, on the grounds of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Beginnings
Winston West SPR debuted in the Winston West Series in a partnership with famous West Series owner Bill McAnally and famous racer Walker Evans. Running the famous No. 16 Chevrolet sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts and with former off-road racer Brendan Gaughan at the wheel, the combination scored nine victories and back-to-back West Series championships in 2000 and 2001. The team would later move Gaughan up to the Truck Series while running Scott Lynch in the West Series. McAnally would continue his West team with drivers such as Austin Cameron and Brian Ickler. Lynch continued to drive for the team, winning both Rookie of the Year and the West Series Championship in 2003.
Glory days
Craftsman Truck Series
Truck No. 62 History Gaughan and his Orleans Racing team would move up to the Trucks full-time in 2002 with NAPA and the number 62 to contend for Rookie of the Year honors. Despite the criticisms of many who said that a team based in the Western United States would not make it in NASCAR, Gaughan proved all of his detractors wrong by winning both races at Texas en route to an 11th-place finish in the points and the 2002 ROTY crown. In 2003 Orleans Racing would only improve, as Gaughan would win a series high six races, including his second consecutive sweep at Texas and a hometown victory at Vegas, heading into the season finale at Homestead. In an ironic twist, lady luck would deal the Orleans team a bad hand, as Gaughan was taken out in a wreck on lap 101 with Marty Houston and finished fourth in points behind Travis Kvapil. The team's underdog status moved Gaughan up into the Nextel Cup Series, to drive for Roger Penske in 2004. While Gaughan was in Cup, Orleans tapped former Cup driver Steve Park to wheel their No. 62. Park would take his first career Truck Series win at Fontana in 2005, but struggled with consistency and was released before season's end. Scott Lynch would take over the No. 62 for the last races of the season, but like Park, struggled and was released. With the reduction in manufacturer support from Dodge, Orleans was forced to downsize to only the No. 77 truck in 2006.
Truck No. 62 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners Pts 2002 Brendan Gaughan 62 Dodge DAY13 DAR20 MAR9 GTY11 PPR26 DOV7 TEX1* MEM13 MLW4 KAN27 KEN11 NHA5 MCH18 IRP29 NSH6 RCH16 TEX1 SBO11 LVS8 CAL3 PHO13 HOM11 11th 2893 2003 DAY10 DAR3 MMR3 MAR16 CLT2 DOV18 TEX1 MEM8 MLW1* KAN9 KEN22 GTW1* MCH1* IRP4 NSH5 BRI4 RCH7 NHA5 CAL2 LVS1* SBO15 TEX1* MAR11 PHO12 HOM29 4th 3797 2004 Steve Park DAY27 ATL12 MAR26 MFD27 CLT12 DOV13 TEX10 MEM11 MLW4 KAN4 KEN6 GTW31 MCH17 IRP22 NSH5 BRI9 RCH12 NHA14 LVS3* CAL8 TEX12 MAR23 PHO6 DAR5 HOM23 9th 3138 2005 DAY23 CAL1 ATL35 MAR24 GTY13 MFD20 CLT5 DOV36 TEX16 MCH31 MLW7 KAN32 KEN8 MEM12 IRP30 NSH15 BRI15 RCH18 NHA12 LVS30 20th 2636 Scott Lynch MAR30 ATL25 TEX23 PHO18 HOM17
Truck No. 77 History The No. 77 truck debuted as the No. 61 truck driven by West Series driver Scott Lynch, who scored 12th-place finishes at Homestead and Phoenix. After his release from Penske, Brendan returned to Orleans Racing in 2005. However, the season proved difficult due to the increase in competition and Gaughan could only muster a 19th-place finish in the points. In 2006, the team changed its name from Orleans Racing to South Point Racing, due to Michael's acquisition of South Coast Casino in exchange for selling Coast Casinos to Boyd Gaming. A high for the newly named South Point Racing was a second-place finish at Homestead and a 15th-place finish in points. The team, switching manufacturers to Chevrolet, climbed to 11th in points, with a near win at Texas.
Truck No. 77 results Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Owners Pts 2003 Scott Lynch 61 Dodge DAY DAR MMR MAR CLT DOV TEX MEM MLW KAN KEN GTW MCH IRP NSH BRI RCH NHA CAL LVS12 SBO TEX MAR PHO HOM12 63rd 254 2004 DAY ATL MAR MFD CLT DOV TEX MEM MLW KAN KEN GTW MCH IRP NSH BRI RCH NHA LVS19 CAL TEX MAR PHO DAR HOM 62nd 106 2005 Brendan Gaughan 77 DAY30 CAL21 ATLDNQ MARDNQ GTY22 MFD15 CLT8 DOV16 TEX27 MCH11 MLW5 KAN8 KEN29 MEM3 IRP8 NSH6 BRI36 RCH11 NHA10 LVS35 MAR24 ATL15 TEX32 PHO23 HOM16 19th 2662 2006 DAY24 CAL36 ATL13 MAR6 GTY14 CLT14 MFD17 DOV19 TEX26 MCH16 MLW19 KAN4 KEN3 MEM17 IRP16 NSH5 BRI17 NHA34 LVS15 TAL12 MAR19 ATL26 TEX17 PHO21 HOM2 16th 2894 2007 Chevy DAY21 CAL21 ATL6 MAR25 KAN11 CLT35 MFD9 DOV36 TEX24 MCH3 MLW28 MEM22 KEN22 IRP10 NSH12 BRI2 GTW10 NHA25 LVS30 TAL16 MAR11 ATL8 TEX2 PHO13 HOM19 17th 2204
Demise For 2008, SPR was to merge with Toyota team Wyler Racing to form Wyler-Gaughan Racing. The partnership, however, would involve the Gaughans leaving their home state of Nevada for Mooresville, North Carolina and switching manufacturers to Toyota, along with having a teammate, Richard Johns. However, for unknown reasons, the deal fell through and South Point Racing was disbanded, with only Brendan and 10–12 of his crew remaining, eventually moving to Circle Bar Racing. The shop was inactive for three months but was most recently used by Cup teams as a shelter during the extremely rainy Auto Club 500.
External links Official Website