Semi-retired NASCAR retired driver Brendan Gaughan has tested positive for COVID-19, the driver reported last week on SiriusXM NASCAR radio. He becomes the second NASCAR driver to test positive, following Jimmie Johnson, who reported a positive test earlier this month.
Gaughan reported only minor symptoms.
“I’m fine,” he said. “I had a head cold with a headache, a stuffy nose and a little post-nasal drip and that’s it. That’s really the most of anything I’ve had, maybe felt tired one of the days or so.”
Johnson’s COVID-19 diagnosis on July 3 resulted in the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion missing the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 5. Gaughan’s diagnosis, though, isn’t expected to interfere in his racing schedule, as he’s only scheduled for four races with Beard Motorsports, the next being at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 29.
Gaughan already has contested two of his four scheduled races this season, including a seventh-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. he last raced at Talladega in June. He is expected to fully retire from NASCAR competition after another race at Talladega on Oct. 4.
Gaughan hasn’t been at a race track since his last race.
“So I’m indoors for a couple weeks,” Gaughan said of his diagnosis. “No wife, no kids for two weeks. I am indoor, quarantined with my puppy and staying isolated on one side of the house and the kids are at a friend’s house, hanging out, playing and swimming. My son just texted me this morning, saying, ‘I miss you daddy.’”
Since NASCAR’s return to competition after a 10-week break because of the coronavirus pandemic, two members of Stewart-Haas Racing and one member of Team Penske have tested positive for COVID-19, as have NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Jarrett and Fred Lorenzen. All have recovered.
