(LAS VEGAS, NV) Las Vegas is a desert oasis, paradise in the middle of a desert, for the ASRS Camping World Truck Series Las Vegas is home to one fantastic race track, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 1.5 mile speedway with high banked corners allows drivers to race side by side inches apart and that allows for entertaining racing.
Thirty-Seven drivers attempted to qualify for the 32 truck starting field, the five drivers who failed to qualify were: #04 Justin Levine, #52 Collin Penn, #95 Jared Morgan, #30 Brad Cross, and #25 Kris Titus.
Pete Baskins led the field to the green flag after winning his first pole of the season. Ben Nile, making his debut in the trucks lined up second for the start. Baskins jumped to the early lead in the #3 Chevrolet.
Eight drivers took turns leading the 73 lap event, as drivers race inches apart throughout the field. The close racing action brought about five cautions that ate 20 laps. In addition to Pete Baskins (13 laps led), other leaders were: Tom Giannini (21) Jamie Vaughn (14), Sam Maxwell (11), Zac Bozanich (11), while Robby Baskins, Scott Haller and Ben Nile all led one lap.
The final caution flew on lap 54 when Jamie Vaughn and Zac Bozanich crashed on the backstretch while battling for the lead. The race went green on lap 58. The final 15 laps were run under green flag conditions. Tom Giannini saved his best for last as his #33 remained on the track under the final caution and took the track position to lead to the end. Todd Kirkwood was second followed by Sam Maxwell, Allan Young and Danny Rodgers rounded out the top five.
The Chase for the Championship drivers had a mixed bag of results with Jim Foose placing highest in the running order with his sixth place finish, while Justin Vaughn was seventh, Robby Baskins 10th, Zack Calloway 13th, Barry Zellmer 16th, Scott Haller 19th, Shawn Musick 20th, Jamie Vaughn was 23rd, Jared Mogard 24th and Jason Lindner finished 32nd, the the first truck out of the race. Robby Baskins leads the championship by 21 points over Jim Foose as the series heads to Talladega Superspeedway October 18th.
Next Tuesday, the ASRS Xfinity Series is in action at Kansas Speedway.