Trucks kick off triple-header at Texas

Fort Worth, TX – Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck. Date: mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. (et). Laps: 147. Miles: 220.5. 2010 winner: Kyle Busch. Television: Speed. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Satellite.

Fifteen points, four drivers and two races to go.

That's the point separation between leader Austin Dillon and fourth-place Johnny Sauter in the Camping World Truck Series driver's standings heading into Friday night's race at Texas Motor Speedway.

The last two races will be contested on 1.5-mile tracks. After Texas, the series takes a week off and then wraps up the season on November 18 at Homestead.

Last Saturday, Dillon finished third at Martinsville and padded his points lead to 11 over James Buescher, who placed tenth.

"I'm looking forward to the next two races," Dillon said. "Martinsville was a great race for us, and I think it gives us momentum for the end of the season. I was a little bit worried heading into the Martinsville race, because practice did not go the way we planned, but the [truck] was great during the race, and we were able to finish well and extend the points lead."

Dillon finished third in his first race at Texas in June 2010 but has placed 25th and 26th in his last two trips here.

Buescher, who hails from nearby Plano, TX, has yet to win a race in the series. He would love nothing better than to pick up his first victory at his home track. Buescher has scored three straight top-10 finishes here.

"I'm looking forward to Texas," Buescher said. "We were really fast there earlier this year, and it would be pretty cool to get my first win at my home track."

Ron Hornaday Jr. has been on a late-season surge towards a record-extending fifth series championship. Hornaday has finished either first or second in the last four races, as he now trails Dillon by 15 points. His first win of the season came in the spring race at Texas.

"Winning the race at Texas Motor Speedway back in June was a really great momentum boost for our team," Hornaday said. "That was the first win of the season and one that we really needed to get moving in the right direction. This championship battle is anybody's to win. I think the championship race is going to go into Homestead, and it's going to be a great shootout."

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are those Sprint Cup Series regulars competing in this race. Busch has won the last two fall events at Texas. Harvick will drive his No.2 Chevrolet, as Kevin Harvick Inc. will have an opportunity to clinch the owner's championship this weekend.

"It's been a few years since I've raced in the Truck Series at Texas, but it's still a track that I like to race on," Harvick said. "Of course, for most drivers the main goal is to go out there and win, but I'm really focused on the Truck Series owner's championship standings. I'm hoping to secure a strong run that helps KHI clinch the championship."

Thirty-seven teams are on the preliminary entry list for the WinStar World Casino 350k.