After running in the top 10 for most of the Smith's Las Vegas 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 22, a blown right front tire with 10 laps to go disrupted Ron Hornaday's chance of back-to-back wins in the NASCAR Truck Series. Hornaday held on for a 22nd-place finish.

The day started late for Hornaday and the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado team because of early morning rain showers that soaked the race track. NASCAR officials made the call to alter the schedule and instead of having two practice sessions, Truck Series teams were given one two hour practice session.

In that one and only session, the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado team experimented with different shock packages and Hornaday was 21st fastest with a lap of 31.387 seconds (172.046 mph). Mike Skinner had the fastest lap with a lap time of 30.793 seconds (175.365 mph).

Hornaday was the third driver to take the track Saturday afternoon during Bud Pole Qualifying, turning in a lap time of 31.372 seconds (172.128 mph), earning the 15th starting position in the race. Eventual race winner, Travis Kvapil, won the Bud Pole with a lap time of 30.789 seconds (175.387 mph).

As the sun began to go down into the desert sky, the green flag waved for the start of the Smith's Las Vegas 350. Hornaday started in the 15th position and by lap five had worked his way into the 10th position.

Hornaday made radio contact to crew chief Rick Ren on lap 15 to inform him that the truck was starting to get loose in the middle of the turns, but was still handling good when coming off the turns. Hornaday continued to pick up positions and was running in the sixth position by lap 30.

The first caution of the night came on lap 31 for an accident in turn two involving Jack Sprague. Hornaday brought the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado down pit road on lap 33 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to the left front tire. The race was restarted on lap 37 with Hornaday in the ninth position.

Hornaday picked up two spots and was running in the seventh position when the second caution came out on lap 42 for an accident in turn two involving T.J. Bell. Hornaday stayed on the track and restarted in the seventh position on lap 44. Two laps later, the third caution came out for an accident in turn two involving Brian Scott and Jacques Villeneuve. The race was restarted on lap 50 with Hornaday still running in the seventh position.

During the restart on lap 50, Hornaday, who was still driving a loose truck, found himself caught in traffic and dropped back to the 12th position. But Hornaday battled and raced his way back up to the seventh position within 25 laps.

The fourth caution of the night came on lap 85 for debris on the track. Hornaday, who had been quiet for most of the race up to this point, made radio contact to Ren to let him know how the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado was handling.

"The truck is good right here, Ren," Hornaday said. "10-4. You're doing a great job," Ren said.

Ren then made the call for Hornaday to bring the truck down pit road for their final scheduled pit stop of the night to get four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to the right front tire. Hornaday restarted the race in the sixth position on lap 94, but the race was quickly under caution again on lap 96 after a truck spun on the frontstretch.

The race was restarted on lap 100 with Hornaday in the fifth position. He was able to make a pass for the fourth position before the caution came out again on lap 110 for an accident in turn four involving Todd Bodine. Hornaday stayed out on the track and restarted in the fourth position on lap 112. Two laps later the caution was back out for an accident on the backstretch involving Jason White. Hornaday again stayed on the track and restarted in the fourth position on lap 117.

Hornaday had started to chase down the leaders and was running faster lap times than the trucks in the second and third positions when bad luck hit the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado. Hornaday made radio contact to Ren on lap 134 and said that he was feeling a vibration. Then on lap 136, with 10 laps to go in the Smith's Las Vegas 350, the right front tire of Hornaday's truck blew out going into turn three causing damage to right front fender.

The caution came out and Hornaday brought the truck down pit road and the team did their best to repair the damage. He restarted in the 22nd position on lap 138 and was able to continue the race. Hornaday finished in the 22nd position.

Going into the Smith's Las Vegas 350, the No. 33 Camping World team was atop the NASCAR Truck Series point standings. After Saturday night's race, the team is now three points behind the No. 5 team and driver Mike Skinner. There are six races left in the 2007 NASCAR Truck Series season.