In The Loop:
With seven races left in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and 74 points separating Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr., one bad finish could decide the championship.
That makes this weekend’s race in Las Vegas a little more interesting, as both Benson and Hornaday have experienced the lows of Vegas bad luck.
Points leader Benson finished 33rd at Vegas in 2005, and a similar result would likely erase his ever-shrinking lead.
Second-place Hornaday finished 22nd last year in this race, at the time relinquishing his points lead to Mike Skinner.
In other words, there’s precedent that Vegas has played a vital role in the championship hopes.
Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, Benson has slightly better statistics than Hornaday at the 1.5-mile track.
Over the last three Vegas races, Benson has a Driver Rating of 105.7, an Average Running Position of 9.6, 31 Fastest Laps Run, 360 Laps in the Top 15 (81.1%) and has been passed just 47 times, which is the lowest of any driver who has run all three Vegas races since 2005.
Hornaday, who scored his fifth career perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 at New Hampshire last weekend, has a Vegas Driver Rating of 93.9, an Average Running Position of 10.8, five Fastest Laps Run and 337 Laps in the Top 15 (75.9%).
Though practically out of the championship hunt, watch for a strong run from Skinner. Skinner scored a perfect Driver Rating at Las Vegas during his win there in 2006.
Manufacturers’ Battle
In some seasons, at least one manufacturer would be clicking the calculator to determine Manufacturers’ Championship clinching scenarios.
Not this year.
Toyota and Chevrolet are locked in the same slugfest as their leading drivers, Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. Hornaday’s New Hampshire victory was Chevrolet’s seventh of the season and cut Toyota’s championship lead to just four points.
Toyota could have edge this week having won two of the past three races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Chevrolet has four times but not since 2004.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series 2008 Manufacturers’ Championship Point Standings Following Race 18 of 25 at Bristol Motor Speedway:
Toyota 124
Chevrolet 120
Ford 86
Dodge 66
Benson, Hornaday Padlock Victory Lane’s Gates
Talk about domination.
Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. are tossing punches back and forth like a pair of heavyweight fighters.
And neither shows any sign of getting knocked down or out.
Beginning with Hornaday’s June 6 victory at Texas Motor Speedway, the pair has won eight of 10 races and distanced themselves from their championship rivals.
Only Erik Darnell (No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford) and Kyle Busch (No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts/NOS Energy Drink Toyota) have stopped the Benson-Hornaday express.
Hornaday’s got the hot hand right now, fashioning back-to-back victories at Gateway International Raceway and — last Saturday — at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
His latest win, Hornaday’s third at NHMS and fifth of 2008, marked the fourth time the Californian has won consecutive races. Hornaday will go for a record-matching third victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he’s winless in seven visits to the 1.5-mile track.
“I’ve had some good runs at Las Vegas over the years. I like the track,” said Hornaday, who has won on all of the schedule’s intermediate tracks — except Las Vegas.
“I don’t see why we can’t have another good run on this type of track.”
Benson, meanwhile, keeps piling up consistent finishes. Since June, he’s finished worse than fourth just once and leads Hornaday by 74 points with seven races remaining. He owns a series-high average finish of 8.1.
Benson won at Kentucky Speedway in July. The track is similar to LVMS.
“I’m hopeful we can have the same outcome Saturday night,” said Benson. “(Crew Chief) Trip Bruce and the guys on the Exide Batteries Toyota have been working overtime trying to bring trucks to the track that can win.
“We know we have to be on top of our game every week to be in contention in Miami.”
For the 13th time in 14 seasons, it’s apparent the decision will go down to the Ford 200 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.
No Table Games For Braun
At age 19, Colin Braun (No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford) will have to do any Las Vegas gambling on the track.
And the rookie of the year leader may not have to do much of that since his truck, with Travis Kvapil at the controls, won last year’s Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350.
“Since I’m not old enough to gamble, I’ll have to hope my luck turns around on the track,” said Braun, victim of a late-race accident in New Hampshire.
Brian Scott (No. 16 Albertsons Toyota) finished a career-best eighth in NHMS to move into third place in Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.
NASCAR Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings After 18 Races of the 2008 Season:
1. Colin Braun 168
2. Donny Lia 147
3. Brian Scott 134
4. Justin Marks 130
5. Marc Mitchell 108
6. Scott Speed 80
7. Andy Lally 71
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