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.

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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."

Hornaday confessed that he was focused more on keeping Sprague in sight at that point.

"All I know is that Jack tried to get in front of [Biffle] and he hit him and they both lost momentum and I about won the race," Hornaday said.

Hornaday's crew chief, Fred Graves, said the strategy was a simple one.

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"We told him if Jack got by Biffle, he had to go with him," Graves said. "Ron did what he had to do and so did Jack, and it just worked out for us."

In 2003, it was Gaughan who came into the season finale with the points lead -- albeit a narrow one -- as Ted Musgrave, Travis Kvapil and Dennis Setzer all were within 40 points of the leader.

Two blown engines in practice forced Gaughan to the tail end of the field for the start but he steadily worked his way into contention and seemed to have things going his way with the race winding down. But Marty Houston, driving as a teammate for Musgrave in one of Jim Smith's five Ultra Motorsports trucks, lost control on Lap 101, hit the wall and ricocheted into Gaughan's truck. Bryan Reffner piled into the wreck, effectively ending Gaughan's day, and his championship hopes (watch video).

"I just ran out of talent," Houston said, who said he was pushed up into some oil dry that caused his truck to lose traction.

Gaughan exited his wrecked truck and bowed to the fans. But after being released from the infield care center, Gaughan made his opinions clear on live television: "Jimmy Smith can kiss my [butt]!"

Smith's fortunes would take a huge turn shortly thereafter. A final caution bunched the field for a restart with two laps remaining -- with Kvapil in sixth, Setzer seventh and Musgrave eighth. At that point, Kvapil and Musgrave were tied for the championship, with Musgrave holding the tiebreaker.

But as the line of trucks headed for the start-finish line, Musgrave suddently darted to the left of Setzer -- a big no-no -- and the next time by, Musgrave was shown the black flag. He crossed the finish line in sixth, but after a few minutes of consultation, NASCAR officials placed him 13th, the last truck on the lead lap (watch video).

Musgrave was livid with what he felt was dirty driving by Kvapil.

"Travis must not be good at restarts, or he's the smartest [expletive] in the world," Musgrave said."He nailed the brakes, and I had to turn left to avoid him, knowing it's going to draw a penalty.

"All I can say is next year you're going to see a whole new Ted Musgrave. He's going to be the dirtiest son of a gun out there on the racetrack. You might as well throw that rulebook away. I ain't going by it no more."

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said the decision to black-flag Musgrave was based on precedent.

"It was a clear-cut, easy decision based on what happened in Texas earlier in the year with Brian Vickers [in a Busch Series race]," Hunter said. "We didn't have any other choice. It was cut and dry."

Bobby Hamilton won the race, but the championship went to a surprised Kvapil, who held off Setzer by nine points.

"This is crazy," Kvapil said. "I know if that caution hadn't come out, we'd have had it in our hands for sure. We were going to finish two spots ahead of Ted. Things just went our way.

"Ted was desperate. He had to make up two spots to beat me. It wasn't going to happen. He took a chance and it just didn't pay off for him."

Kvapil had to wait nervously in his truck for 10 minutes before getting the official word.

"It's like you're sitting on death row to see if your time's up," Kvapil said.

If past performance is any indication, engine temperatures won't be the only thing near the boiling point at the end of Friday night's Ford 200.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer