NASCAR BGN Detroit Gasket 200 Preview: #34, Mike McLaughlin
14 August 1997
#34 Mike McLaughlin, Royal Oak Charcoal Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division
Detroit Gasket 200 Advance
Michigan Speedway
MIKE MCLAUGHLIN NOTES & QUOTES: DETROIT GASKET 200
BROOKLYN, MI - Gary Cogswell, crew chief of the #34 Royal Oak Charcoal
Chevrolet, grew up approximately 35 miles from the Michigan Speedway in Holt,
Mich. At a very young age he attended Late Model and Modified races at
Lansing Speedway, which is now referred to as Spartan Speedway. During high
school, Cogswell and his buddies had fun attending drag races.
"Michigan Speedway is my home track," explained Cogswell. "To run well there
would mean a lot to me. It is definitely one of my favorite tracks. The fact
that it has a smooth surface and more than one groove to race on makes it that
much more appealing. Along with Bristol and Darlington, Michigan Speedway is
on my 'most wanted wins' list."
Cogswell's mother and two sisters will be in attendance for the Detroit Gasket
200 to lend support to Gary and his Team 34 Racing teammates.
Team 34 Racing owner, Frank Cicci has one win at Michigan Speedway. It
occurred in 1992 when driver Todd Bodine won the inaugural Detroit Gasket 200
at Michigan Speedway.
The #34 Royal Oak Charcoal Chevrolet that McLaughlin will drive this weekend
is the same car that placed fifth at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5, 1997 and
33rd at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 1997. McLaughlin led a total of
66 laps during the inaugural Coca-Cola 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.
After McLaughlin's worst finish of the 1997 season, a 37th at Indianapolis
Raceway Park, he dropped from fifth to eighth in NASCAR Busch Series point
standings.
Mike McLaughlin's Michigan Speedway Statistics
Date St Fin LC/TL Status $Won
8/17/96 4 13 100/100 Running 9,945
8/19/95 7 10 99/100 Running 8,570
8/20/94 4 4 100/100 Running 8,445
Mike McLaughlin's Career NASCAR Busch Series Statistics
Starts Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 $Won
119 2 3 26 44 1,156,364
MIKE McLAUGHLIN/TEAM 34 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Results
Date Location St Fin LC/TL Compl. $Won Status
2/15 Daytona Bch, FL 2 33 81/120 67.5 16,412 Engine
2/22 Rockingham, NC 4 8 197/197 100.0 9,260 Running
3/1 Richmond, VA 7 27 245/250 98.0 8,126 Running
3/12 Atlanta, GA 25 17 196/197 99.4 10,355 Running
3/16 Las Vegas, NV 14 24 194/200 97.0 16,550 Running
3/22 Darlington, SC 25 33 134/147 91.1 6,825 Running
3/29 Hickory, NC 20 10 300/300 100.0 8,945 Running
4/5 Ft. Worth, TX 11 5 200/200 100.0 32,025 Running
4/12 Bristol, TN 2 2 250/250 100.0 25,010 Running
4/19 Nashville, TN 1 13 320/320 100.0 7,775 Running
4/26 Talladega, AL 5 35 57/117 48.7 9,780 Running
5/10 Loudon, NH 12 1 200/200 100.0 34,150 Running
5/18 Nazareth, PA 19 8 200/200 100.0 8,262 Running
5/24 Charlotte, NC 30 33 131/200 65.5 6,737 Running
5/31 Dover, DE 22 23 197/200 98.5 8,800 Running
6/13 S. Boston, VA 15 8 300/300 100.0 8,090 Running
6/29 Watkins Glen, NY 6 1 82/82 100.0 36,987 Running
7/6 Milwaukee, WI 33 13 249/250 99.6 12,075 Running
7/12 Myrtle Beach, SC 17 2 250/250 100.0 17,325 Running
7/26 Madison, IL 20 5 240/240 100.0 24,150 Running
8/1 Indianapolis, IN 2 37 129/200 64.5 6,725 Accident
Outside
Starts Poles Poles Wins Top 5 Top 10 LC/TL (%) $Won
21 1 3 2 6 10 4152/4420 (93.9) 314,364
By Events & Outings, Inc.
