Brendan Gaughan made his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start at Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, Calif.) on April 28, 2001. After only completing 6 of 150 laps due to mechanical issues, he received a DNF.
He returns to the series piloting the No. 62 Chevrolet for Rusty Wallace, Inc. for the 2009 Nationwide Series season. He will run a full-season competing for the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors, starting with Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 13.
He will run the No. 62 Chevy in place of the No. 64 car of RWI that ran in 2008. RWI switched car numbers in honor of Gaughan's family heritage (the No. 62 Orleans Racing team in the NASCAR Truck Series), further establishing the Wallace Family's own racing heritage over the years.
Gaughan, the 2002 Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series, won eight races over two full seasons and finished fourth in the Truck Series point standings in 2003.
In 2004, Gaughan moved up to the Cup Series to drive the No. 77 Kodak Dodge for Penske-Jasper Racing. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings after posting four top-10s.
A native of Las Vegas, Gaughan won the NASCAR Winston West Series title in 2000, 2001.
Gaughan has a degree in business management from Georgetown University, where he also played basketball for the Hoyas.
