Brendan Gaughan reunited with old pals for LVMS dirt track race

Brendan Gaughan is seen on pit road before qualifying for a NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Brendan Gaughan is seen during pre-race activities as the NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Brendan Gaughan acknowledges fans while walking down a runway during driver introductions before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, July 7, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

He grew up racing fast cars in the dirt. So when Brendan Gaughan learned there would be a race featuring full-bodied NASCAR stock cars at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway dirt track, it was time to step out of semi-retirement again.

Gaughan and Xfinity Series star Christopher Bell will be guest drivers in Thursday night’s Star Nursery 100 K&N Pro Series West race kicking off South Point 400 NASCAR playoff weekend. Both will drive for Bill McAnally Racing — the same team for which Gaughan won series championships in 2001 and ‘02 before jumping to NASCAR’s major leagues.

“This is the first dirt race in like 40 years in Winston West, K&N racing, and (Bill) wanted to get us all together,” said Gaughan, 43, who stepped out of his Xfinity Series ride after the 2017 season to brew legal moonshine and learn the family business of managing hotel-casinos.

“So we have the entire 2001 championship team, minus two of the guys who have passed away. It’s another chance to win a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and I do love winning there, I don’t care what series it’s in.”

But winning again on his other hometown track will be more difficult with the team having added Bell to its stable of drivers, and series points leaders and teammates Derek Thorn and Ryan Partridge poised to defend their turf.

“I’m a little (mad) at Bill,” Gaughan said in jest. “You bring me in, and then you bring Christopher Bell in. And then he’s got Hailie Deegan, who, if there’s going to be a regular that I would have to put my money on as the favorite — she is very well-versed in many disciplines.

“I told Bill if (Bell) thinks he’s gonna pass me, he’s gonna end up with a car in a milk carton,” added Gaughan, ever the showman. “So Christopher, I’m warning you now.”

Dirt devil

In addition to racing in desert dirt on his way up, Gaughan also has a top-five finish in NASCAR’s only dirt track race at Eldora (Ohio) Speedway driving for Richard Childress in the Truck Series. He sees the K&N Race mostly as a chance to have fun with old pals, rather than a trial balloon for the Cup Series running on dirt some day.

“Everybody loves to talk about that but I like it right now that it’s just Eldora — it’s special for the trucks,” said Gaughan, who won eight races in the Truck Series, two in Xfinity and continues to drive in major Cup Series races for car owner Mark Beard’s small outfit.

“I ran really good on the dirt at Eldora so I’m still pretty current on it. But in the end, I’m just excited to run for Bill.”

For Gaughan, this is the “Blues Brothers” movie when Jake and Elwood put the band back together.

“It’s a nostalgia thing,” he said.

“When you get older, certain things start to mean more. To have all the guys back and flying in from out of town — all the guys who have Cup jobs who are coming down to play in the K&N West Series — I think it’s awesome.”

Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.