Long-time NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan is set to return to the sport for the first time since 2020 later this month.
Gaughan will enter next week's Truck Series race at Coronado Naval base for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, his first race in that series since he ran full-time for Richard Childress Racing in 2013.
The 50-year-old will drive the No. 20 Chevy truck in the first race at the specially created street course, reuniting with owner Bill McAnally – for whom he won two NASCAR Winston West Series championships in 2000 and '01.
The one-off race weekend has been created to celebrate the 250th birthday of the US Navy, and of the country itself.
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Gaughan: Great chance for NASCAR to recognise military
A team statement on Gaughan's return to NASCAR racing revealed that his ties to the military drove his desire to race at Coronado specifically, adding: "Gaughan is an Honorary Squadron Commander for the U.S. Air Force Combat Control Team and will feature their logo on the bed top of his No. 20 Chevrolet in San Diego.
"A close friend and former Georgetown football teammate of Gaughan’s, Captain (Ret.) Ryan Shann, spent the majority of his 28-year career in the Navy stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and was the Commanding Officer of Seal Team 1 in 2015-2016."
Gaughan himself added: “This is so cool to come back and race in a truck again for Bill. We’ve got a ton of history together, tons of great memories, and this is going to be something we’ll talk about for a long time.
"Ever since I heard the race at Coronado was going to happen, I knew I wanted to run something, and I’m just glad Bill and I were able to make this happen. This is a great chance for the NASCAR community to celebrate and recognize our military with a unique event, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
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