The Smiths 350 race today at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway was almost renamed the “Caution Begets Caution 350” as more than half of the first 50 laps were run under caution.

There were 10 cautions in all for 44 laps.  Most of the cautions fell during the first part of the race.  Ron Hornaday who started on the Pole – earned his 1st win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway…. his 4th victory of 2011.  Matt Crafton finished second, Timothy Peters third, Johnny Sauter fourth and Todd Bodine fifth.

Hornaday gave all of the credit to his crew chief Bruce Cook – they’ve only been working together for 2 weeks…. previously Cook worked on the #2 truck before Hornaday moved into that ride.  The win today brought Ron within 21 points of the leader.

It was a rough day for the Top-2 point contenders for the Camping World Truck Series Championship.  Austin Dillon came into the race with the points lead that lasted all of two laps when the #3 truck hit the outside wall hard.  They worked on Austin’s truck all day and he did gain several other laps back as other cautions fell – but it was not enough and Dillon finished the race 17th.  But, due mostly to others having a bad day – Dillon was able to hold onto a small points lead.

James Buescher came into today’s race only three points behind Dillon but he got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.  On lap 48 the #32 truck driven by Blake Feese got loose and came up the race track – Buescher had no where to go and suffered heavy damage to his truck – he finished the day P21.  He dropped one place in the standings and is now 7 points back in 3rd place.

Johnny Sauter started the race third in the points and finished the race P4.  The good finish bumped Sauter up one place in the points – he is now second and 5 points behind Austin Dillon.  At the end of the day, the drivers at the top of the pack stayed at the top of the pack – just with a much thiner cushion.  The top 5 are now only separated by 25 points.

The scariest moment of the day came on lap 31 when Johnny Sauter made contact with Ricky Carmichael… who then spun from the apron of the track up to the wall in front of traffic.  The #18 of Brian Ickler and #7 of Miguel Paludo suffered heavy damage – ending both of their days.  They were both evaluated and released from the infield care center without injury.

Max Gresham may be happiest driver to be “leaving Las Vegas.”  He qualified 32nd but then was moved to the back of the field after his team had to make an engine change in the #66 truck – then on lap 42, Max went spinning through the front stretch grass after Brent Raymer got loose coming out of turn-4 – Gresham had no where to go.. and both trucks ended up in the grass.

Hometown boy, Brendan Gaughan took his Southpoint Casino Tundra home in the top-10 after starting the day P21.  He ran as high as second during the race and kept his Toyota clean until lap 124 when he was pushed into the outside wall by Justin Lofton.

After the race Gaughan told Queer4Gears that he held nothing against Lofton, “You can’t be mad with 20 laps to go and guy that’s racing real hard messing up.  He went in a little tight, snapped it loose taking us both out.” After Lofton brushed with Brendan he lost control off the apron and came up the track collecting the #33 of Cale Gale.

NOTES:  Nelson Piquet Jr finished P6 after being penalized for a loose lug nut – so a great recovery for the 8 truck and was the highest finishing rookie.  Matt Crafton posted his fifth top-10 in eleven races here in Las Vegas – it was his 12th Top-10 this season.  Timothy Peters posted his second top-10 finish in four races at LVMS.