Race day for the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series drivers began on the track at 4:15 p.m. when the 37 trucks took to the track for a two-lap qualifying run to determine the 36-truck starting lineup for Saturday night’s NCWTS The Kentucky 225. The qualifying session was televised on SPEED.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Weather conditions remain cool in the greater Sparta area, featuring cloudy skies, an air temperature of 55 degrees, a relative humidity of 63 percent and winds at 10 mph from north-northwest. The on-track temperature was 69 degrees.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The track qualifying record was set by BILL LESTER in 2005 when he turned the Kentucky Speedway tri-oval in 30.313 seconds (178.141 mph). LESTER’s time could be in jeopardy today as 3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) topped the mark in the Final Practice on Friday, posting a 30.269 second effort, good for 178.400 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
74 MIKE HARMON (Global Pigeon Supply Ford) was the first truck on the track, posting a 31.961 second lap (168.956 mph) to move into the Keystone Light Pole.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
93 BJ MCLEOD (S&W Services Chevrolet), the fourth truck on the track, moved into the Keystone Light Pole lead with a 31.530 second effort (171.265 mph) on his second lap around the track.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
MCLEOD’s time at the top was short-lived as 38 MIKE GARVEY (S&W Services Chevrolet) bumped him from the top with a 31.263 effort on his second lap, good for 172.728 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
66 ROSS CHASTAIN (National Watermelon Promotion Board Chevrolet), the 12th truck on the track, became the fourth driver to sit on the Keystone Light Pole lead when he posted a 31.158 second lap (173.310 mph) on his first lap and then improved his time to 30.905 (174.729 mph) on his second lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Series rookie 7 MIGUEL PALUDO (Stemco Duroline Chevrolet), the 15th truck on the track, moved into the Keystone Light Pole lead with a 30.773 lap (175.479 mph).
The lead was short-lived as 98 DAKODA ARMSTRONG (Ferrellgas/AgrisureChevrolet) took over the top spot in the field with a 30.739 second lap, good for 175.673 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
81 DAVID STARR (Allegro Marinades Toyota) became the third straight driver, and seventh of the session, to take over the Keystone Light Pole lead with a 30.616 lap (176.378 mph). The effort would be the third-fastest winning qualifying time in series history at The Kentucky Speedway history.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
17 TIMOTHY PETERS (Big O Tires/Service Central Toyota), the 19th truck on the track, started the second half of the qualifying session by taking over the top spot with a 30.581 lap (176.580 mph).
2011 Kentucky Speedway
51 JOSH RICHARDS (Joy Mining Machinery Toyota), the 23rd truck on the track, took over the Keystone Light Pole lead with a 30.517 effort (176.951 mph) on his first lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Series rookie 29 PARKER KLIGERMAN (Penske Truck Rental Dodge), the 24th truck on the track, became the 10th different driver to take over the pole lead with a 30.431 second lap (177.136 mph). The speed would be the second-fastest winning qualifying speed.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Three qualifiers later, 6 JUSTIN LOFTON (CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet), the 27th truck on the track, broke the six-year old track qualifying record with a 30.309 second effort on his second lap, good for 178.165 mph. It bested the previous record of 30.313 seconds (178.141 mph) set by BILL LESTER on July 9, 2005.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The record didn’t last long as 18 BRIAN ICKLER (Toyota Toyota), the 32nd truck on the track, broke the record with a 30.274 second run on his first lap, good for 178.371 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
2 RON HORNADY, JR. (Hollywood Casino Chevrolet), the 35th of 37 trucks to attempt to qualify, became the third truck to set the track qualifying record today with a 30.235 second effort on his second lap, good for 178.601 mph.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autgotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet), the 36th truck on the track, moved into second place with a 30.272 second lap on his first run, good for 178.383 mph.
The best time of the day came last as 3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) became the fourth driver to set the track record today with a 32.022 second effort on his only qualifying lap. DILLON’s 179.868 mph speed obliterated the old track mark of 178.141 mph that stood since 2005.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The top five drivers in qualifying each surpassed the old track qualifying record as the fastest qualifying session in series history at the track came to an end at 5:06 p.m.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
A better example of how much the cooler track temperature helped qualifying came as the top 25 finishers in qualifying each posted a time better than the 31.015 second effort (174.109 mph) that was registered by JOHNNY SAUTER when he claimed the pole for the NCWTS race in July at The Kentucky Speedway.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
3 AUSTIN DILLON, who will start the Kentucky 225 on the Keystone Light Pole:
On whether this is the best set up ever for his truck?
"It's one of them. I feel like we've just have gotten everything together and I'm on the top of my game right now. It's the most comfortable that I have felt in the truck series. Yesterday I told them that I felt like I was getting every bit out of the truck that I could get. It's just really running fast and I can't wait for tonight. We're gonna tighten her up a little bit more because there will be faster speeds tonight. You are probably going to see some 30.0’s again tonight."
On sending a message to the field with speed of his truck:
"That's what we want to do. It's a tough championship race right now and we want to show them that we are here to stay. This is the two weeks we want to capitalize on. . . Kentucky and Las Vegas. These are very good tracks for us and we need to go out there and win."
On how the colder weather tonight will affect the trucks:
"The biggest thing is that it just makes our tires grip up better and we run faster lap times. It'll be a little looser because we are running so much faster. At some point and time when you have all that grip it just goes away really quick. You just have to be really tight and really good with your truck.”
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Pre-race festivities for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kentucky 225 began on schedule at 7:30 p.m. leading up to the start of the race at approximately 8:10 p.m. The race is being televised nationally on SPEED.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 36-truck field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kentucky 225, the 12th edition of a NASCAR Camping World Truck series race at The Kentucky Speedway, was determined by the results of the two-lap qualifying session held earlier in the afternoon. 3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) broke the six-year old track qualifying record of BILL LESTER (30.313 seconds, 178.141 mph) when he posted a 30.022 second lap (179.868 mph).
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Eleven different drivers have won the first 12 editions of the NASCAR Camping Worl Truck Series events at the Kentucky Speedway with the winners of three previous races in tonight’s starting lineup. 33 RON HORNADAY, Jr. (Hollywood Casino Chevrolet), who is starting second, is the only multiple winner in the series history at Kentucky Speedway, and he owns both the best finish from the pole and the lowest starting spot to win at the track. HORNADAY, Jr. won the 2006 race after starting 22nd and came back in 2009 to become the only driver to win from the pole. 30 TODD BODINE (Georgia Boot Toyota), who won in 2010, is starting 12th.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
How hard is it to either win a Pole or take a checkered flag at a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event in Kentucky? Not only have 11 different drivers started on the pole (3 AUSTIN DILLON is the only repeat pole-sitter), but only three of those drivers have also won a race. 18 DENNIS SETZER, who started on the pole in 2004 in a grid that was based on owner’s points because rain cancelled qualifying, also won the race in 2005, 5 MIKE SKINNER started on the pole in 2007 and won in 2008 while 33 RON HORNADAY, Jr. won in both 2006 and 2009, becoming the only to driver in series history at the track to win from the pole in 2009. That means that 18 different drivers can claim to have either started on the pole or won a NCTS event in Kentucky.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Starting on the Pole at Kentucky has not necessarily been a good thing in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. Not only has just one driver won from the Pole, but the starter on the Pole has only finished in the top five in six of the 11 races. In July, 13 JOHNNY SAUTER started on the pole but finished 24th, the lowest finish by a pole-sitter at the Kentucky Speedway. 33 RON HORNADAY, JR. is the only pole-sitter to take the checkered flag, doing so in 2009. In the other 11 races, the pole-sitter has finished third once, fourth twice, fifth twice, seventh, ninth, 11th, 19th, 22nd and 24th.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
You probably won’t need to look too far down the starting grid to find the eventual winner of tonight’s race, especially considering that only four times in the first 12 series races at the Kentucky Speedway has a driver outside the third row come back to win the race. RON HORNADAY, JR won after starting 22nd in 2006 and DENNIS SETZER claimed the checkered flag after starting 18th in 2005. In 2010, 30 TODD BODINE started 14th and fought back to win the race. In July, KYLE BUSCH qualified eighth but was forced to move to the back of the pack for missing the pre-race meeting but came back to claim the checkered flag. The other eight winners have started first (once), second (twice), third (twice), fourth (twice) and once from fifth.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Weather conditions were cool for racing under cloudy skies with an air temperature of 48 degrees and relative humidity of 64 percent, an on-track temperature of 52 degrees. The wind was from the N-NW at 10-15 mph. The temperature at the start of the race was the coldest in track history for any event, seven degrees cooler than the old record of 55 degrees at the start of the ARCA RE/MAX series event in May, 2006.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
88 MATT CRAFTON (Menards/Ideal Door Chevrolet) and 32 BLAKE FEESE (AccuDoc Solutions Chevrolet), who were slated to start 6th and 35th, respectively were sent to the back of the pack for making changes to the trucks following qualifying. CRAFTON will start 35th after changing the engine this afternoon while FEESE, who did not post a qualifying run and made the field based on owner’s points, will move back one spot to 36th for transmission changes.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race began on time at 8:25 p.m. with all 36 trucks on the track for the start. A nationwide audience was viewing the race on SPEED.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) fought off 2 RON HORNADAY,JR. (Hollywood Casino Chevrolet) twice during the first lap to hold onto the lead after the first lap (of 150) of the Kentucky 225. HORNADAY, JR. was second, followed by 18 BRIAN ICKLER (Toyota Toyota) in third, 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet) in fourth, 31 JAMES BUESCHER (Exide Chevrolet) in fifth, 60 COLE WHITT (Fuel Doctor/Red Bull Chevrolet) in sixth, 6 JUSTIN LOFTON (CollegeComplete.com Chevrolet) in seventh, 22 JOEY COULTER (RCR Graphics Center Chevrolet) in eighth, 51 JOSH RICHARDS (Joy Mining Machinery Toyota) in ninth and 5 TODD BODINE (Valvoline Toyota) in 10th.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The first lead change of the night came on Lap 2 when 18 BRIAN ICKLER battled outside down the back stretch to take the lead from 3 AUSTIN DILLON.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race went to its first caution on Lap 4 when 51 JOSH RICHARDS spun in Turn 2 and made contact with the wall. RICHARDS suffered significant damage and was leaking fluid but was able to get off the track under his own power.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
29 PARKER KLIGERMAN, who started the race and had to pit because of a punctured right rear tire, was the Lucky Dog for the caution.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 13 with 18 BRIAN ICKLER in the lead. 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. was in second, followed by 3 AUSTIN DILLON in third, 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. in fourth and 31 JAMES BUESCHER in fifth. 32 trucks were on the track with 32 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The second lead change of the night came shortly after the restart on Lap 14 when 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. went outside in Turn 4 to pass 18 BRIAN ICKLER.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race went to a second caution on Lap 21 when 39 RYAN SIEG appeared to cut a tire which led to contact with the wall in Turn 4. SIEG was able to pit under his own power. “I was racing the 29 (PARKER KLIGERMAN) off of Turn 4 and I must have gone too high and into the marbles and hit the wall. Then, I cut a right front tire and hit the wall again and that was it for the night,” SIEG said.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The Lucky Dog for the caution was 38 MIKE GARVEY.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The caution allowed the field to make the first (of as many as three) pit stop during the race.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The third lead change of the night came on Lap 23 when 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. pitted, turning the lead over to 10 JENNIFER JO COBB.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. was the big winner in the stops, entering the pits in fourth place and emerging in the lead. 2 RON HORNADAY, JR., who was leading going into the stops, lost four places.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The fourth lead change of the race came on Lap 24 when 10 JENNIFER JO COBB pitted, turning the lead over to 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 26 with 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. in the lead. 3 AUSTIN DILLON was in second, followed by 31 JAMES BUESCHER in third, 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. in fourth and 18 BRIAN ICKLER in fifth. 33 trucks were on the track with 29 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR, owned a 3.273 second lead over 3 AUSTIN DILLON after 40 laps (of 150). DILLON was in second, followed by 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. in third, 31 JAMES BUESCHER in fourth and 60 COLE WHITT in fifth. 30 trucks were on the track with 26 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race went to a third caution on Lap 41 when 68 CLAY GREENFIELD got high on the track in Turn 2 and made contact with the wall. GREENFIELD was able to get off the course under his own power but suffered damage to the right rear of the truck.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The Lucky Dog for the caution was 10 JENNIFER JO COBB.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The majority of the field pitted during the caution, starting on Lap 44.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The fifth lead change of the race came during the caution when 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. pitted on Lap 44, turning the led over to 07 JOHN KING.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The sixth lead change came on Lap 45 when 07 JOHN KING pitted, turning the lead over to 17 TIMOTHY PETERS.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 47 with 17 TIMOTHY PETERS in the lead. PETERS was followed by 60 COLE WHITT in second, 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. in third, 6 JUSTIN LOFTON in fourth and 4 RICKY CARMICHAEL in fifth.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The lead changes came quickly after the restart as 60 COLE WHITT took over the lead down the front stretch on Lap 47 and 17 TIMOTHY PETERS took the lead right back on Lap 48.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race went to a fourth caution on Lap 51 when 6 JUSTIN LOFTON and 7 MIGUEL PALUDO bumped coming into Turn 4. PALUDO got loose, taking 29 PARKER KLIGERMAN with him into the wall. As the mishap settled, 9 MAX PAPIS got caught up into it, making contact with KLIGERMAN. PALUDO and PAPIS were able to get off the track under their own power but fell multiple laps behind as their crews made repairs in the garages. KLIGERMAN needed assistance from track maintenance vehicles to get off the track.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The Lucky Dog for the caution was 88 MATT CRAFTON.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 59 with 17 TIMOTHY PETERS in the lead. PETERS was followed by 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. in second, 60 COLE WHITT in third, 3 AUSTIN DILLON in fourth and 6 JUSTIN LOFTON in fifth.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The ninth lead change of the race came on Lap 59 when 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. went inside in Turn 2 to pass 17 TIMOTHY PETERS.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race went to a fifth caution on Lap 66 when 07 JOHN KING spun in Turn 4 and made contact with the wall. KING was able to get off the track under his own power and continue in the race.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The Lucky Dog for the caution was 88 MATT CRAFTON.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 10th lead change of the race came on Lap 67 when 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. pitted, turning the lead over to 13 JOHNNY SAUTER.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 71 with 13 JOHNNY SAUTER in the lead. SAUTER was followed by 21 TY DILLON in second, 98 DAKODA ARMSTRONG in third, 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. in fourth and 3 AUSTIN DILLON in fifth. 26 trucks were on the track with 24 on the lead lap.
The 11th lead change of the race came on Lap 72 when 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. went outside coming out of Turn 4 to pass 13 JOHNNY SAUTER.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. had a 1.295 second lead over 13 JOHNNY SAUTER after 75 laps (of 150). SAUTER was second, followed by 21 TY DILLON in third, 3 AUSTIN DILLON in fourth and 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. in fifth. 26 trucks were on the track with 23 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race went to a sixth caution on Lap 79 when 66 ROSS CHASTAIN spun in the front stretch and made contact with the wall. CHASTAIN was able to get off the track under his own power and remain in the race.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The Lucky Dog for the caution was 57 NORM BENNING.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 84 with 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. in the lead. 3 AUSTIN DILLON was in second followed by 13 JOHNNY SAUTER in third, 60 COLE WHITT in fourth and 31 JAMES BUESCHER in fifth. 25 trucks were on the track with 21 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The seventh caution followed on Lap 86 when 62 BRENDAN GAUGHAN spun coming out of Turn 2 and made slight contact with the wall. GAUGHAN was able to get off thet rack under his own power and stay in the race.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The Lucky Dog for the caution was 22 JOEY COULTER.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 12th lead change of the race came during the caution with 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. pitted, allowing 3 AUSTIN DILLON to move into the lead.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The race restarted on Lap 90 with 3 AUSTIN DILLON in the lead. DILLON was followed by 31 JAMES BUESCHER in second, 13 JOHNNY SAUTER in third, 98 DAKODA ARMSTRONG in fourth and 17 TIMOTHY PETERS in fifth. 26 trucks were on the track with 22 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 13th lead change of the night came after the restart on Lap 90 when 31 JAMES BEUSCHER passed 3 AUSTIN DILLON. BUESCHER becomes the 10th truck to lead during the race, setting a track series record.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 14th lead change followed on Lap 93 when 3 AUSTIN DILLON took the lead right back from 31 JAMES BUESCHER. The 14 lead changes sets a track series record.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
3 AUSTIN DILLON opened up a 3.109 second lead over 31 JAMES BUESCHER after 100 laps (of 150). BUESCHER was in second, followed by 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. in third, 98 DAKODA ARMSTRONG in fourth and 21 TY DILLON in fifth. 27 trucks were on the track with 21 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The pit of 3 AUSTIN DILLON reported that the water temperature of the truck was going up because of a piece of debris stuck to the truck. DILLON bump drafted with 10 JENNIFER JO COBB on Lap 110, allowing the debris to fall away.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
13 JOHNNY SAUTER was assessed a Black Flag penalty on Lap 114 for speeding as he both entered and exited the pits. SAUTER was forced to make a pass through the pits, falling two laps off the lead.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
17 TIMOTHY PETERS was assessed a BLACK Flag penalty on Lap 116 for speeding as he exited to pits. PETERS was forced to make a pass through the pits, falling off the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 15th lead change of the race came on Lap 121 when 3 AUSTIN DILLON pitted under the green, turning the lead over to 2 RON HORNADAY, JR.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
2 RON HORNADAY, JR. opened up an 11.034 second lead over 6 JUSTIN LOFTON after 125 Laps (of 150). LOFTON was second, followed by NELSON PIQUET, JR. in third, 60 COLE WHITT in fourth and 23 JASON WHITE in fifth. 26 trucks were on the track with 8 on the lead lap.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
6 JUSTIN LOFTON was assessed a Black Flag penalty for speeding when exiting the pits. LOFTON was forced to make a pass through the pits.
The 15th lead change of the race came on Lap 130 when 2 RON HORNADAY, JR. pitted, turning the lead over to 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 16th lead change followed on Lap 139 when 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. pitted for fuel, turning the lead over to 5 TODD BODINE.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The 17th lead change came on the next lap (Lap 140) when 5 TODD BODINE pitted, turning the lead over to 2 RON HORNADAY, JR.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
2 RON HORNADAY, JR. had a 0.537 second lead over 3 AUSTIN DILLON after 144 laps (of 150). 31 JAMES BUESCHER was 2.195 seconds behind.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The gap between HORNADAY, JR. and DILLON was 0.204 second after Lap 145, 0.357 seconds after Lap 146, 0.307 seconds after Lap 147 and 0.407 after Lap 148.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
2 RON HORNADAY, JR. held off 3 AUSTIN DILLON to take the checkered flag by 0.438 seconds to win the NCWTS Kentucky 225.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
2 RON HORNADAY, JR. wins a NCWTS event at the Kentucky Speedway for the third time (he also won in 2006 & 2009) and remains the only series multiple event winner at the track.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The lead lap finishers of the race were:
- 2 RON HORNADAY,JR. (Hollywood Casino Chevrolet)
- 3 AUSTIN DILLON (Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet) -0.438 seconds behind
- 31 JAMES BUESCHER (Exide Chevrolet) -4.639
- 8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. (Autotrac/Qualcomm Chevrolet) -14.439
- 18 BRIAN ICKLER (Toyota Toyota) -19.746
- 4 RICKY CARMICHAEL (Monster Energy Chevrolet) -28.513
2011 Kentucky Speedway
There were seven cautions totaling 36 laps during the race. The caution laps were 5-12 (RICHARDS mishap, 22-25 (SIEG mishap), 42-46 (GREENFIELD mishap), 51-58 (multiple car mishap), 67-70 (KING mishap), 80-83 (CHASTAIN mishap), 87-89 (GAUGHAN mishap).
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Eleven trucks led laps during the race and there were 18 lead changes
3 AUSTIN DILLON 32 Laps (1, 87-89, 93-120)
18 BRIAN ICKLER 11 Laps (2-12)
2 RON HORNADAY, JR. 42 Laps (13-22, 59-66, 121-133, 140-150)
10 JENNIFER JO COBB 1 Lap (23)
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR. 40 Laps (24-43, 72-86, 134-138)
07 JOHN KING 1 Laps (44)
17 TIMOTHY PETERS 13 Laps (45-46, 48-58)
60 COLE WHITT 1 Lap (47)
13 JOHNNY SAUTER 5 Laps (67-71)
31 JAMES BUESCHER 3 Laps (90-92)
5 TODD BODINE 1 Lap (139)
2011 Kentucky Speedway
Twelve (of the 36 starting) trucks were unable to finish the race. They were:
27 BRENT RAYMER Engine vibration (completed 2 laps)
74 MIKE HARMON Power (completed 4 laps)
51 JOSH RICHARDS Mishap on Lap 4 (completed 4 laps)
39 RYAN SIEG Mishap on Lap 22 (completed 19 laps)
38 MIKE GARVEY Clutch (completed 21 laps)
87 CHRIS JONES Rear gear (completed 29 laps)
68 CLAY GREENFIELD Mishap on Lap 41 (completed 40 laps)
29 PARKER KLIGERMAN Mishap on Lap 51 (completed 49 laps)
9 MAX PAPIS Mishap on Lap 51 (completed 51 laps)
07 JOHN KING Mishap on Lap 66 (completed 72 laps)
93 BJ MCLEOD Overheating (completed 88 laps)
23 JASON WHITE Oil Pump (completed 131 laps)
2011 Kentucky Speedway
The average speed of the race was 116.051 mph (including cautions) with an elapsed time of 1:56.21.
2011 Kentucky Speedway
18 BRIAN ICKLER, who finished fifth:
“It was a pretty uneventful night overall. The three-wide racing really took us out and kept us in the back. It (the truck) was just too free for me. We had a decent night in points but it is still not enough to really help so I am just really looking forward to Kyle (Busch) coming back and helping out with that.”
2011 Kentucky Speedway
8 NELSON PIQUET, JR., who finished fourth:
“We screwed up, (it was) none of the boys fault. I don’t know why we couldn’t do the same strategy as the leaders. It’s just silly. We could have won this race easily. I’m just very disappointed tonight.”
2011 Kentucky Speedway
31 JAMES BUESCHER, who finished third:
“Our Exide Battery truck was fast all night. We just kept working on it and making adjustments to make it better. It started off tight, then a little loose end problem and (it was) tight when we finally got a lot of laps on the tires when the truck felt the best so we decided to do two tires on the last pit stop. We weren’t as fast as the 2 (Hornaday) or 3 (Austin Dillon) so I thought that our only chance to win was take two tires and hopefully gap them enough. But the way the pit cycle came out, the 2 (Hornaday) came out in front of us off pit road and the 3 (Austin Dillon) ended up getting us anyway. It didn’t hurt to try by any means. We had a really good truck and that’s the way we have to run the rest of the year and hopefully we can win one of these things.”
2011 Kentucky Speedway
3 AUSTIN DILLON, who finished second:
“The truck was really fast all day. I was running it wide open those last laps after the pit stop, but it got really tight and I couldn't gain where I needed to gain. He (Hornaday) needed to be in lapped traffic for us to gain on him. My guys did a nice job and it was a good points day so we'll just carry on to the next race. It's a very close points race and we gained a point, we'll take a point, and now we're headed to Vegas where we ran really well last year and we just got to go do it again.”
On the points championship:
"I'm going to have to do better on restarts. I don't know what our problem is, but when I go to third (gear), I get killed. We lose there. Other than that, we have to keep doing what we're doing, finishing races, staying out of trouble, and getting them at the end. If we're there at the end, we'll have a shot at the championship."
From the interview on SPEED:
"I was trying everything and driving really hard, but the right front started pushing really bad and I got tight in traffic. I could gain a lot on entry to the center on him, but that was really our only chance. Other than that, I got so tight there on the last run. The guys did a really good job on pit road all night, but we had a little problem with the water temp getting really high at one point and I was getting worried about it, so I backed off and that's where we lost some of our lead. I have to thank Bass Pro Shop. It was a good points day for us--everyone's still close. We'll go to Las Vegas--a place we won at last year--and take this same truck and see if we can do it again."
2011 Kentucky Speedway
2 RON HORNADAY, JR., who won the 2011 NCWTS Kentucky 225:
On his third win at Kentucky and career No. 50:
"I guess I like Kentucky. They say ‘what's your favorite track’ and I tell them the ones I win at. Now, I won three at Kentucky, so this is my most favorite right now. To see them fans come out as cold as it is, and do what we accomplished tonight. Hollywood Casino is on the side of the Chevrolet. That's pretty awesome. Bruce (crew chief Bruce Cook) made an awesome call, when we came in and everyone else stayed out and we put four (tires) on and ran the leaders down. We were running second and he (Austin Dillon) had to pit to come in and get fuel and we got an extra 20 laps on him. That's the call that won the race."
On competition from Austin Dillon:
"He definitely had the fastest truck today. Just getting out front meant everything. I'm an old guy. I have to beat those young kids. That's an up and coming star right there. I need to make sure I get my last licks that I can."
On what's it means to win for the 50th time:
"It's gonna be good when you’re sitting on the porch one day retired, playing with the grandkids and telling them I won 50, and remembering that it was Kentucky."
From the interview on SPEED:
“Thank you to Kevin and Delana (Harvick--Team Owners), this is so awesome giving me Bruce (Cook -- Crew Chief) and all these guys. I'm excited just going around the track. I'm tired of just that. Hollywood Casino thanks for coming aboard. It takes so many people. I can't say enough about Kevin and Delana believing in me, putting me in the No. 2 truck and we got my 50th win tonight, and that's pretty darn cool."
2011 Kentucky Speedway