Truck Series has a history of dramatic championships

Like clockwork, it seems that the Craftsman Truck Series championship has come down to the final laps of the final race every five years. That was the case in the 1998 Sam's Town 250 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and again five years later at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the 2003 Ford 200. And Friday's season finale should prove to be no less eventful.

• Send Mark your thoughts
• Mark's Community page

And it wouldn't be at all surprising if the final outcome hinges on the actions of someone not directly involved in the championship battle. Wouldn't it be interesting if it turned out to be Brendan Gaughan, who played a role in both the 1998 and 2003 showdowns?

Ten years ago, it was Hornaday (the 1996 champion) who led Jack Sprague (the 1997 champion) by 13 points heading into the season's last race. But it was rookie Greg Biffle who had the dominant truck for much of the second half of the race and was vying to become the 13th different winner in as many races when he built a 14-second advantage.

But three cautions in the final 20 laps, including a Lap 165 crash by Gaughan, bunched the field behind Biffle and set up a green-white-checkered finish. Sprague was second, followed by Joe Ruttman and Hornaday. Knowing that he didn't have the points needed to overcome Hornaday's lead, Sprague dove low under Biffle on the restart.

"The whole year came down to two laps," Sprague said. "I did all I could do."

The two trucks banged into each other, and while Sprague was able to pull off the pass and win, Hornaday was able to get around both Ruttman and Biffle's damaged machine for second, clinching the championship by three points.

"This was incredible, to know that if Jack won it, you have to finish second," a jubilant Hornaday said afterwards. "It was a great finish, but it might have been even better if I could have gotten under Jack [in a turn]. The sparks might really have started flying."

Sprague did what he needed to do to win the title -- which was win the race -- but he was more upset about Biffle's driving style at the end.

"[He] moved over and slammed the hell out of me and then let off and let Hornaday go," Sprague said. "I didn't think that was right. Hornaday didn't do anything wrong. I would have taken advantage of the same situation. But I didn't expect anybody to move over for me, and I wouldn't have asked 'em to.

"I got the race, but I didn't get the championship. One day [Biffle] might be in the same position, and you'll remember the things he pulled. I could have swallowed [losing the title] better if it had been done right. But there was a little lack of class involved in this one." (Continued)