Event Schedule
Thursday, October 13th
1:00 PM NCWTS HAULERS ENTER
1:30 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION OPENS
2:00 PM NCWTS GARAGE OPENS
5:00 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION CLOSES
6:00 PM NCWTS GARAGE CLOSES
Friday, October 14th
7:00 AM NCWTS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS
7:30 AM NCWTS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS, RANDON DRAWING
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM [11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EASTERN] NCWTS PRACTICE
10:45AM - 12:15 PM [1:45 PM - 3:15PM EASTERN] NCWTS FINAL PRACTICE
4:30 PM [7:30 PM EASTERN] NCWTS QUALIFYING (TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS)
4:30 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION CLOSES
6:30 PM NCWTS GARAGE CLOSES
Saturday, October 15th
9:00 AM NCWTS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM NCWTS Minor’s admitted in the NASCAR Garage Area with proper credentials
9:30 AM 10:30 AM NASCAR Pace Car Rides
10:30 AM NCWTS DRIVER / CREW CHIEF MEETING
12:00 PM NCWTS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS-SECURITY–CLEAR PIT ROAD
12:30 PM [3:30 PM EASTERN] NCWTS RACE (146 LAPS, 219 MILES)
1:00 PM NCWTS REGISTRATION CLOSES
NOTE: All times are listed in local / Pacific Time Zone and are tentative, subject to change.
Race Rundown
Hornaday wins at Las Vegas: #2-Ron Hornaday Jr. hung on to the lead following a restart with 8 laps remaining, to pick up the win for the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is his second win in a row, his first at Las Vegas, and his 51st career overall. #88-Matt Crafton finished second. Rounding out the top ten were; #17-Timothy Peters, #13-Johnny Sauter, #5-Todd Bodine, #8-Nelson Piquet Jr., #19-David Mayhew, #60-Cole Whitt, #62-Brendan Gaughan, #29-Parker Kligerman. The driver points standings race tightened up significantly as both #3-Austin Dillon and #31-were involved in incidents where they sustained significant damage with both ending the race several laps down. #3-Dillon finished 17th,15 laps down, however still holds a five point lead over second place #13-Johnny Sauter. #31-James Buescher finished 21st and dropped to third in the standings; seven markers out of first place. There were 8 lead changes among 5 drivers, with 10 caution flags for 44 laps Complete race results are posted on the Las Vegas Race Results Page.(Official)(10-17-2011)
Post-Race Fast Facts:
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
15th Annual Smith's 350
Race Winner: Ron Hornaday
Age: 53
Team: No. 2 - Champion Chevrolet
Owner: Delana Harvick
Crew Chief: Bruce Cook
*Ron Hornaday won the 15th Annual Smith's 350, his 51st victory in 296 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
*This is his fourth victory and 15th top-10 finish in 2011
*This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 11 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
*Matt Crafton (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in 11 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . It is his 12th top-10 finish in 2011.
*Timothy Peters (third) posted his second top-10 finish in four races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
*Nelson Piquet Jr. (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
*Austin Dillon leads the point standings by 5 points over Johnny Sauter.
(Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, October 15, 2011 @ 05:10 PM Central)
Race Awards:
Exide Start Positive, Stay Positive Award: Johnny Sauter, #13
Featherlite Most Improved Driver: Ryan Sieg, #39 22 Places
Keystone Light Pole Award: Ron Hornaday Jr, #2 176.056 mph
Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race: Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies, #2
Mobil 1 Driver of the Race: Ron Hornaday Jr, #2
O'Reilly Auto Parts Position Improvement Award: Norm Benning, #57 18 places
Sunoco Rookie of the Race: Nelson Piquet Jr, #8 (NASCAR Statistics)(10-15-2011)
Lucky Dog Awards - Who got a lap back on each caution at Las Vegas: (and finish)
Caution 1: No benefactor
Caution 2: #3-Austin Dillon, 17th
Caution 3: #3-Austin Dillon, 17th
Caution 4: #66-Max Gresham, 25th
Caution 5 #3-Austin Dillon, 17th
Caution 6: #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, 18th
Caution 7: No benefactor
Caution 8: #19-David Mayhew
Caution 9: #81-David Starr
Caution 10: #8-Nelson Piquet Jr.
(NASCAR Statistics)(10-15-2011)
Driver Point Standings following Race #21 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
1) #3-Austin Dillon, 731
2) #13-Johnny Sauter, 726 -5
3) #31-James Buescher, 724 -7
4) #2-Ron Hornaday Jr., 710 -21
5) #17-Timothy Peters, 706 -25
6) #88-Matt Crafton, 673 -58
7) #5-Todd Bodine, 671 -60
8) #60-Cole Whitt, 668 -63
9) #22-Joey Coulter, 656 -75
10) #29-Parker Kligerman, 642 -89
Complete driver point standings are posted on the Las Vegas Driver Standings Page.(Official)(10-17-2011)
- Owner point standings: following the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are posted on the Las Vegas Owner Standings Page.(Official)(10-17-2011)
Las Vegas Pit Stall Selections
Hornaday wins Las Vegas pole: Ron Hornaday Jr., driving the #2-Champion Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Inc., was the fastest qualifier with a top speed of 176.056 mph to win the Keystone Light Pole for the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is Hornaday's 1st pole this season, 27th career pole overall. Rounding out the top ten were; #3-Austin Dillon, #29-Parker Kligerman, #13-Johnny Sauter, #88-Matt Crafton, #31-James Buescher, #8-Nelson Piquet Jr., #18-Brian Ickler, #4-Ricky Carmichael, #7-Miguel Paludo. DNQ: none. Complete starting lineup is posted on the Las Vegas Lineup Page.(10-14-2011)
Post-Qualifying Fast Facts:
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
15th Annual Smith's 350
Keystone Light Pole Winner: Ron Hornaday
Age: 53
Team: No. 2 - Champion Chevrolet
Owner: Delana Harvick
Crew Chief: Bruce Cook
*Ron Hornaday won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 15th Annual Smith's 350 with a lap of 30.672 seconds, 176.056 mph.
*This is his 27th pole in 296 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
*This is his first pole and 16th top-10 start in 2011. Hornaday's last pole came in 2010 at Talladega Superspeedway.
*This is his second pole in 11 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . He sat on the pole here in 2008.
*Austin Dillon (second) posted his 19th top-10 start of 2011 and his second in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
*Parker Kligerman (third) posted his first top-10 start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway . It is his 15th in 21 races this season.
*Parker Kligerman (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Fri, October 14, 2011 @ 07:29 PM Central)
Sauter quickest in final practice: Johnny Sauter, driving the #13-SafeAuto/Curb Records Chevrolet for Thorsport Racing, was quickest in the final practice session for the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a top speed of 176.448 mph. Rounding out the top ten were; #3-Austin Dillon, #2-Ron Hornaday Jr., #8-Nelson Piquet Jr., #23-Jason White, #31-James Buescher, #29-Parker Kligerman, #22-Joey Coulter, #18-Brian Ickler, #4-Ricky Carmichael. There were 34 trucks on track for the final session. Final practice speeds are posted on the Las Vegas Practice Speeds Page.(10-14-2011)
Crafton leads Las Vegas opening practice: #88-Matt Crafton, driving the Ideal Door/Menards Chevrolet for ThorSport Racing, had the fastest lap with a top speed of 176.154 mph to lead the opening practice session for the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Rounding out the top ten were; #2-Ron Hornaday Jr., #3-Austin Dillon, #29-Parker Kligerman, #13-Johnny Sauter, #17-Timothy Peters, #8-Nelson Piquet Jr., #22-Joey Coulter, #60-Cole Whitt, #23-Jason White. Complete practice speeds are posted on the Las Vegas Practice Speeds Page.(10-14-2011)
Official Entry List: There are 34 trucks listed on the Official Entry List for the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Late entries; #0-Wayne Edwards, #75-John Borneman Complete entry list is posted on the Las Vegas Entry List Page.(10-14-2011)
Preliminary Entry List: There are 31 trucks listed on the Preliminary Entry List for the Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Note: There were originally 32 listed; #51-Josh Richards is shown as withdrawn. Complete entry list is posted on the Las Vegas Entry List Page.(10-10-2011)
Notes:
#2-Ron Hornaday Jr.,returns to the seat of the KHI Chevrolet with Champion onboard
#18-Brian Ickler, driver of the Toyota Tundra Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports
#27-Chris Jones, driver S&W Services for Sieg Racing
#32-Blake Feese, driver for the Turner Motorsports Chevrolet
#66-Max Gresham, making series debut driving the Turn One Racing/Stratosphere Chevrolet(10-10-2011)UPDATE:
#10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, late entry, JJCR Dodge(10-12-2011)
Goodyear Tire Notes
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Series -- Race No. 21 – Smith's 350
Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) – Las Vegas, Nev.
Fast Facts for October 14-15, 2011
Tire:
Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials
Number of Tires:
Left-side -- 375
Right-side -- 375
Set limits:
5 sets for the weekend
Tire Codes:
Left-side -- D-4374
Right-side -- D-4478
Tire Circumference:
Left-side -- 87.3 in.
Right-side -- 88.4 in.
Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 34 psi; Left Rear -- 34 psi
Right Front -- 62 psi; Right Rear -- 58 psi
Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi
Right Front -- 58 psi; Right Rear -- 54 psi
Notes: This is the first time NASCAR Camping World Truck teams have run either of these two tire codes . . . compared to what truck teams ran at Las Vegas last season, this left-side tire code (D-4374) features a compound change to give the trucks more grip, while this right-side tire code (D-4478) features a slight construction change . . . this is the same left-side tire that NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams ran at Las Vegas in March . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Las Vegas . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear PR)(10-13-2011)
NASCAR's News & Notes
Truck Series News & Notes - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Smith's 350 A Toss-Up Between Three Title Contenders
Call Saturday's Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in microcosm. Austin Dillon, James Buescher and Johnny Sauter comprise the top three -- and most likely, only -- contenders for the 2011 crown.
A year ago, the finishing order of the Smith's 350 found each of the title hopefuls among the top three. Dillon won the race by 2.474 seconds over Sauter, with Buescher third. Sauter won the race in 2009, his first series victory -- a springboard to an eventual Sunoco Rookie of the Year title.
Dillon, 21 and bidding to become the youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck champion, leads Buescher by three points with Sauter 19 back. He's coming off his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in Kansas where he finished 26th.
Sauter has been particularly strong on intermediate tracks -- he won last year at Kansas Speedway -- and this week's race is crucial to picking up the pieces, so to speak. The Wisconsin driver dominated competition from spring through early summer before faltering.
Buescher continues to seek his first series victory but has been the series' most consistent competitor logging 17 top 10s in 19 starts. He finished third behind Ron Hornaday Jr. and Dillon in the most recent event at Kentucky Speedway.
Hornaday, meanwhile, hopes to avoid any hangover from the milestone 50th victory -- and shake off what has been a Sin City jinx. "This is one of those tracks that I don't have a victory at so that is definitely our priority this weekend. I am back with Bruce Cook and the No. 2 truck team this weekend and really looking forward to getting on the track to see what we have," said Hornaday, who still harbors hopes for the fifth championship. He's fifth, 42 points behind Dillon. "This team is on top of their game and with five races to go in the season, it's game time."
Hometown Victory Would Add Shine To Gaughan's Lackluster Season
Brendan Gaughan hasn't exactly been a stranger to his home track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, having competed at the 1.5-mile track in NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series events over the past three seasons.
But Saturday's Smith's 350 marks a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series homecoming for the 36-year-old Las Vegas native, winner of the race in 2003. Gaughan's last start in a truck came in 2008, resulting in a 12th-place finish.
Gaughan was hoping for much better as the 2011 season winds down. The eight-time series winner and 2002 Sunoco Rookie of the Year is 13th in the points standings with a single top-five and five top-10 finishes. A victory in his hometown would certainly be welcome. "Our strong run at New Hampshire (12th) is our precursor for heading to Las Vegas," he said. "We're taking the New Hampshire truck to Vegas. It has been to the wind tunnel recently and it has a different downforce balance than our other chassis. I think I'm gonna like the truck there."
Lofton, Carmichael Have Busier Weekend Than Most
Two drivers, Justin Lofton and Ricky Carmichael, have busy weekends before them. The Smith's 350 is their primary focus but each has a second "job" once the checkered flag falls at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Lofton will compete off road on Sunday, sharing a Class 1500 Buggy with his father Bob in the Best in the Desert Racing Association's BlueWater Desert Challenge near Parker, Ariz. The race is a two-day event run on a 28-mile course. The elder Lofton will qualify and race on the first day of competition with the son primed to take over Sunday.
Carmichael's task is more immediate. He's set to handle commentary for SPEED's coverage of the Monster Energy Cup motocross race being held Saturday night at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium. Carmichael, a 15-time AMA motocross champion, helped design the course for the two-wheel set's richest payday.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Etc.
Saturday's race is the final stand-alone event of the season -- and the last in which no NASCAR Sprint Cup points-eligible drivers are likely to compete. The track's most recent afternoon race in 2002 was won by David Starr. Gaughan and Matt Crafton also were in the field, finishing eighth and 25th. Crafton will make his 268th consecutive start this weekend, surpassing Dennis Setzer for No. 2 all-time. ... Five former winners are entered: Dillon, Gaughan, Sauter, Starr and Todd Bodine. ... Recently crowned NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Max Gresham will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in Las Vegas. The 18-year-old Georgia competitor will drive the No. 66 Turn One Motorsports Chevrolet for Stacy Compton. ... DeLana Harvick and Kyle Busch continue to battle for the NCWTS owner's title. Harvick's No. 2 Chevrolet team holds a 41-point lead over Busch's No. 18 Toyota.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications.)(10-11-2011)
Truck Series News & Notes -- Open Week, October 4, 2011
Hornaday Still Believes Fifth Title 'Is Doable'
Basking in the glow of his milestone 50th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, Ron Hornaday Jr. was only half-joking about still being in contention for a fifth championship with five races remaining in the 2011 season. "I never say die," said Hornaday, following his third victory at Kentucky Speedway on Oct. 2."If they (Kevin Harvick Inc.) give me trucks like tonight, it's doable."
Hornaday, in fifth place and 42 points behind leader Austin Dillon, led the most laps in the Kentucky 225. He edged the onrushing Dillon, who had earlier won his fifth Keystone Light Pole of the season, by 0.438 seconds."He's the new up-and-coming star and I can say at the age of 53 I beat him," said Hornaday. Nearly a third of Hornaday's wins, 15, have come since the Palmdale, Calif.-competitor turned 50. Hornaday's victory was the fifth of the year for crew chief Bruce Cook. Cook, previously a winner with Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, observed of Hornaday,"It's insane how he does things sometimes. He's just that good." Cook is the 13th different crew chief to visit Victory Lane with Hornaday. He's won championships with three: Rick Ren twice and Doug Williams and Fred Graves.
Hornaday's thoughts on win No. 50? "It's going to mean a lot when I hang my helmet up and I'm in my rocking chair on the front porch with my grandchildren," he said.
NCWTS Leader Dillon Makes NASCAR Sprint Cup Debut In Kansas
Sunday will be a coming-out party for the Dillon family for the second consecutive weekend. Austin Dillon is due to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. He'll drive a No. 98 Chevrolet prepared by his grandfather's Richard Childress Racing with ownership by former California Lt. Gov. Mike Curb. The team will be led by Danny Stockman, Dillon's NCWTS crew chief.
Dillon's younger brother, 19-year-old Ty Dillon, participated in his first NASCAR national series race at Kentucky Speedway. He finished 18th but ran in the top five with Austin during portions of the Kentucky 225.
Two other NASCAR Camping World Truck title contenders will be busy during this off weekend. James Buescher, who trails Dillon by three points in the standings, will drive a Turner Motorsports entry in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300. Buescher, who finished third in Kentucky, will work out with Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City on Thursday and host several team members during Saturday's race.
Johnny Sauter travels to his native Wisconsin for a pair of Late Model races during the Oct. 8-9 Oktoberfest at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Sauter is third in NCWTS standings trailing Dillon by 19 points after finishing 14th at Kentucky Speedway.
Armstrong Nabs Top-10 Finish In Prep For Rookie Campaign
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender-to-be Dakoda Armstrong didn't want to start the 2012 season cold, and his strategy-- get experience at as many different tracks as possible this year-- has begun paying dividends. The 20-year-old Indiana agriculturalist had no finish higher than 20th in four starts before logging a ninth-place performance at Kentucky Speedway. "Really it has just been important to get laps and experience because the trucks are so different compared to everything else I've run," said Armstrong, who made his NASCAR Camping World Truck debut at Iowa Speedway in July and also competed at Lucas Oil Raceway, Michigan International Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway."It's important for us as a team to keep getting better as well, and the more we run together the better we'll get." Armstrong competed fulltime in ARCA a year ago, winning twice (including Talladega) and finishing seventh in points. He joined ThorSport Racing as a teammate to Sauter and Matt Crafton to compete in trucks. "The biggest thing for me is getting comfortable with the truck and the team and being able to tell them what I need," said Armstrong. "With each race we run I feel more confident in knowing what the truck is going to do and how to adjust to make it better."
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Etc.
Next on the schedule is the season's final stand-alone race Oct. 15 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. ... The Smith's 350 is the season's fourth and final time behind the wheel of the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota for Brian Ickler. He scored the year's second top-five finish in Kentucky, his eighth top 10 with KBM over two seasons. ... Winfield Motorsports LLC has announced the hiring of Dennis Connor as director of competition. Connor won three NCWTS championships with Jack Sprague and is No. 2 all time in crew chief victories with 26. The No. 27 team expects to announce its 2012 driver shortly. ... Sunoco rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. led 40 laps and finished fourth at Kentucky but continues to trail Joey Coulter and Cole Whitt in freshman standings. Twelve points cover the trio.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications PR)(10-4-2011)
