NASCAR Driver Returns to Sport After Six Years Away

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 13: NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan speaks with the media during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

What’s Happening?

Brendan Gaughan is making his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series after making his most recent NASCAR National Series start in the Cup Series six years ago.

  • Gaughan, a former series regular, will make his return with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing next weekend at the San Diego Street Circuit. Though he is an eight-time winner in the Truck Series, Gaughan has not raced a truck since the 2013 season.
  • The 50-year-old Las Vegas native made his Truck Series debut in 1997 and was a familiar face in the series and all three NASCAR National Series, well into the 2020s. His most recent NASCAR start came at the 2020 Talladega playoff race, where Gaughan finished 35th for Beard Motorsports.
  • While Gaughan may not be remembered for his road course prowess, he did have moments. That includes his first-ever win in what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2014 at Road America with Richard Childress Racing.
  • Of course, Gaughan won’t be the only one playing catch-up during the first-ever race at San Diego, as several other NASCAR legends are either returning to the Truck Series or the sport as a whole. This list currently includes Jamie McMurray and Jimmie Johnson.

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