With seven races remaining, it can be said that the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has entered its homestretch.
The schedule features a short track, flat mile, superspeedway and four intermediates.
Las Vegas is the first of the 1.5-mile tracks which could play a key role in deciding this year’s champion.
That certainly was the case in the past two seasons. Current leader Johnny Benson (No. 23 Exide Batteries Toyota) was on the threshold of a big points turnaround in 2006 at Atlanta Motor Speedway when leader Todd Bodine (No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota) experienced early problems.
Instead, a broken driveline allowed Bodine to increase his lead and ultimately win the title.
A year ago, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) was motoring to his second championship until his truck shed a wheel. That allowed Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) to overcome a 29-point deficit in the season finale.
What does Las Vegas Motor Speedway have in store for the contenders?
For four who never have won there — Benson, Hornaday, Rick Crawford (No. 14 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford) and Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet) — a victory would do nicely as a start. The past nine races have seen nine different winners.
