GAYLORD SEARCHES FOR VICTORY IN NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES

            DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 9, 2001) – The 2001 season opened for Scott Gaylord as one of his best since making his debut in the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1988. The 42-year-old competitor from Lakewood, Colo., was a model of consistency in the first half of the year – with top-10 finishes in six of seven races.

            After struggling in the past two events, however, Gaylord is hoping to recapture some of that success as the West’s oldest stock car racing circuit moves into the final portion of the schedule. He is also looking for that elusive first victory.

            “The series has become more competitive every year,” Gaylord said. “We can get out there and lead races and show we have the ability to get out front. It’s just getting there at the right time and making sure that nothing does break down.”

            Gaylord’s next shot at a win will come in his own backyard as the NASCAR Winston West Series visits Colorado National Speedway for the NAPA 250 on Saturday, July 14. The $102,028 event on the short track north of Denver will be televised on a tape-delay basis on Fox Sports Net. It is the 10^th event on a 14-race schedule this season.

            For Gaylord, who drives the Geoff Burney-owned Oliver Gravity Separators Chevrolet, the race will mark a return to a track near his hometown. He was one of a few active drivers who competed in the series when it visited Colorado National Speedway in 1995 and 1996. “We’ve raced at the track before and led there,” Gaylord recalled. “It’s different now, but not that much different. If we can get our act together and get back up front, this would be a nice time to pull off a win.

            “It’s great having the hometown family and fans there,” Gaylord continued. “The people from Oliver Gravity Separators are going to be there and they’re excited about it.”

            Fans should expect plenty of tight door-to-door action around the 3/8-mile oval, according to Gaylord. “It’s a small track and kind of one groove,” he said. “So, it’s going to be some tight racing.”

            Once the green flag drops, the only chance teams will have to adjust on their cars and the only stop in the action will come during a halfway break – with the 250-lap event being run in two segments.

            “Drivers are going to have to take care of their equipment and have some patience,” Gaylord stressed. “The tires always come into the factor and how well the car is set up. Without having pits stops, you need to take care of your equipment and be there at the end. Hopefully, we can do it.”

            Gaylord attributes his early season success, meanwhile, to his team – which is led by his wife Donna, who serves as the crew chief. “We’ve been at it long enough and we’ve got some good people on the Oliver team,” Gaylord said. “The equipment has come around. Last year we were still trying to rebuild a lot. And, obviously, there’s luck in racing. That’s helped out. But it is a tribute to the Oliver team that we had those top-10 finishes.”

            Gaylord, who ran a limited schedule in five of his 11 seasons of competition in the NASCAR Winston West Series, has finished in the top 10 of the championship standings the other six times – eighth in 1988, sixth in 1995, fifth in 1996, sixth in 1997, ninth in 1998 and 10^th in 2000. In the 106 races he has started – Gaylord has won two Bud Pole Awards and finished in the runner-up spot twice. He has accumulated 15 top-five finishes and 39 top-10 finishes. With $419,349 in winnings, he ranks ninth on the list of career money leaders in the series.

            Gaylord’s popularity in the NASCAR Winston West Series is reflected in the honors he has received. He was presented with the Most Improved Driver Award in 1995, the Sportsman Award in 1997 and the Most Popular Driver Award in 1998.

            In addition to the NASCAR Winston West Series, the former SCCA and IMSA road racer has competed in NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division, events.

      Nine NASCAR Touring Series blanket the United States – bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks, such as CNS, and some NASCAR super speedways and road courses. A NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks.

Source: NASCAR Public Relations