Former Kentucky Speedway NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race winners Johnny Benson (2008) and Ron Hornaday, Jr. (2006) will be separated by just three championship points entering the Nov. 14 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Benson, the current championship leader, gave up three points in the Nov. 7 event at Phoenix International Raceway after finishing 26th and one place behind second-place title contender Hornaday, Jr.
Both drivers were involved in a seven-truck, incident on Lap 1 that started the first of seven race periods, but the championship hopefuls were able to return to the race. Hornaday, Jr., finished the race with his truck running and Benson was knocked out by a second accident on Lap 129. Benson won the 2007 Homestead race in which Hornaday, Jr., placed seventh.
Benson has registered two top-five and four top-10 finishes in the past five events while Hornaday, Jr., has taken two top-two finishes in that stretch. Benson will be searching for his first series title, second straight top-five finish in the championship standings and third straight top-10 championship finish. Hornaday, Jr., leads the series in all-time wins with 39 and will attempt to register his second straight and all-time series leading fourth series championship. He earned his other previous titles in 1998 and 1996 and is tied with Jack Sprague (2001, 1999 and 1997) for the all-time series title lead.
Kevin Harvick took the race win in Phoenix by 0.940 of a second over Kyle Busch after leading 60 of 150 laps. Busch led a race-high 90 laps. Todd Bodine placed third, Brian Scott took fourth and 2007 Kentucky Speedway series race winner Mike Skinner ground out a fifth-place finish. Harvick earned his first win, top-five and top-10 finish of the season in his second series start while Busch collected his ninth top-five and 15th top-10 finish in his 17th series start this season.
Todd Bodine remained a remote championship contender by scoring his fifth straight top-five and sixth straight top-10 finish in Phoenix. He starts the week trailing Benson by 143 points. Rookie Brian Scott took his first career top-five finish and has now placed in a race top 10 in three straight and four of the past five events.
Skinner picked up one spot in the series standings and now ranks fifth after knocking out his second straight and fourth top-10 finish in his past six races. That stretch includes a Sept. 20 win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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