Ted Musgrave celebrates his second Gateway win with truck owner Jim Smith. Credit: Nate Mecha/HSP

Musgrave dominates Truck race at Gateway

Veteran driver takes lead in Craftsman Truck Series standings

MADISON, Ill. (AP) -- Ted Musgrave dominated the Craftsman Truck Series' Dodge Ram Tough 200 from start to finish Saturday night, leading all but two laps en route to a 0.935-second victory over Dennis Setzer.

Race Results Dodge Ram Tough 200 Pos. Driver Make 1. Ted Musgrave Dodge 2. Dennis Setzer Chevrolet 3. Jimmy Spencer Dodge 4. Mike Skinner Toyota 5. Rick Crawford Ford Complete results, click here Standings, click here Victory LaneTed Musgrave celebrates his dominating victory Final lapsMusgrave takes the checkered flag at Gateway Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Musgrave, who started his Ultra Motorsports Dodge from the pole after a record qualifying lap, easily held off Setzer on two late restarts on the 1.25-mile Gateway International Raceway for his 16th career Truck Series victory.

"It isn't very often you have this dominant of a truck. As soon as we started I thought, 'Man, I'm set,"' said Musgrave, who dropped to second place twice during pit stops in the 160-lap race.

"I had not led a lap this season until tonight. As dominant as we were, I knew it wasn't over until it was over. Last year I was leading the whole race in Phoenix and blew a tire with 20 laps to go. So I wasn't taking anything for granted."

The 49-year-old driver, also the 2001 winner at Gateway, took the lead in the season standings, 13 points ahead of sixth-place finisher Bobby Hamilton.

The victory was the 36th for team owner Jim Smith, matching Jack Roush for the most wins on the series that began in 1995.

Jimmy Spencer, Musgrave's teammate, was third, followed by Mike Skinner and Rick Crawford, Hamilton, Todd Bodine, Robert Pressley, Chad Chaffin and Ricky Craven.

Musgrave, who earned $62,035, averaged 100.854 mph in the race slowed by seven caution periods that consumed 29 laps.