Bodine Wins NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race

LAS VEGAS September 25, 2005; Tom Gardner writing for the AP reported that Todd Bodine passed Ted Musgrave on the final lap in a green-white-checker finish Saturday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the season.

Bodine, bumped out of the lead on the final lap a year ago by Shane Hmiel, averaged 119.557 mph and led 114 of the 146 laps in the Las Vegas 350.

Musgrave had passed Bodine just before a caution came out with two laps left when Steve Park grazed the wall.

"Everybody gets lucky once in a while. I really messed up letting Ted get by me. I wasn't going to get beat because of my own mistake again this year," Bodine said. "I knew I had a good enough truck top get around him."

Bodine beat Musgrave by 0.298 seconds -- about four car-lengths.

"It was nerve-racking, but I'll take it," Bodine said. "We were doing the right thing, making the right move."

Musgrave, who trailed series points leader Dennis Setzer by 59 points going into the race, cut the difference to five points after Setzer finished 14th.

"Our truck was decent, but it wasn't anything like his," Musgrave said of Bodine. "He won the race. I could not accelerate off the corner like he could."

David Starr finished third.

"I was hoping Ted and Todd might get together and rough each other up a little bit and give me a chance," Starr said.

Jack Sprague was fourth, followed by Bobby Hamilton.