Bill Lester and the No. 22 Bill Davis Racing team started the Smith's Las Vegas 350 at the newly-improved Las Vegas Motor Speedway from the 26th spot. Despite qualifying deep in the field, the team believed the truck was capable of a top-15 finish. From the very start of the race, Lester was forced to contend with a truck that handled tight from the center of the corner off. He lost several positions in the opening 10 laps of the 146-lap race.

When the caution flag was displayed to the field on lap 25, Lester explained to his team that the truck was in a four-wheel slide in the center of the corner and just did not want to turn. Lester brought his Bill Davis Racing Tundra down the pit lane on lap 26 for a four-tire stop with chassis adjustments.

After fast work by the No. 22 crew, Lester restarted the race 25th on lap 29. The adjustments seemed to help the truck, and Lester began regaining his lost positions. By lap 40, Lester stood 22nd and was posting lap times as fast as those of the top-10 trucks.

Lester began knocking on the door of the top 10 by lap 60. He reported that the truck had very little grip and would not turn from the center of the corner out. Crew chief Doug Wolcott advised his driver to be patient, as the team would attempt to remedy the problem during the next pit stop.

The team made its final pit stop of the night under caution on lap 76. Like its previous stop, the team changed four tires, fueled the truck and made chassis adjustments. Lester restarted 29th on lap 79.

He again battled through the field, emerging in the 22nd position at lap 100. He told his crew that the handling of the truck went the other direction, and it was extremely loose in the corners. Lester's hard-fought battle culminated in a 19th-place finish.