Hornaday ignores controversy in win

Truck series champ closes on Benson

If Ron Hornaday has been distracted by the media uproar this week over his admission of the use of testosterone cream in 2004 and 2005, it certainly didn't show Saturday at Loudon, N.H.

Hornaday dominated the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from start to finish, leading 149 of the 200 laps and holding off Johnny Benson on his way to his second consecutive victory in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Hornaday, the reigning series champion, also gained a little ground on Benson, the points leader, in his chase for a second straight title. Hornaday trails Benson by 74 points with six races left.

"I have to thank all the race fans who have supported me over the past week," said Hornaday, who got his fifth win this season and 38th of his career.

Earlier this week in an interview with ESPN The Magazine, Hornaday admitted using testosterone cream in 2004 and 2005 when attempting to find a diagnosis for unexpected weight loss. Hornaday was eventually diagnosed with Grave's disease.

NASCAR officials announced this week Hornaday would not be penalized and considered the use of the steroid a "personal medical issue."

ALSO SATURDAY

NHRA CAROLINAS NATIONALS: Larry Dixon took the No. 1 Top Fuel qualifying position, while Funny Car icon John Force failed to qualify in his debut at the zMAX Dragway in Concord.

Dixon remained atop the Top Fuel starting order based on his performance from Friday, a 3.846-second run at 311.63 mph in his Don Prudhomme-owned dragster. It was his third top qualifier of the season and 30th of his career.

Force, 14-time champion and Countdown failed to qualify for the second consecutive race and fourth time this season, putting his hopes of winning a 15th season title in jeopardy. It is only the 16th time Force has DNQ'd in 513 career races.

Frank Hawley (Funny Car), Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) held on to their quick performances from Friday and also will lead their respective categories into today's eliminations at the first of six races in the POWERade Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1.

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX: Sebastian Vettel of Toro Rosso will become the youngest Formula One driver to start from the pole position after setting the fastest qualifying session at Monza, Italy.

The 21-year-old German driver took advantage of the rain-drenched Monza circuit to earn the first pole for himself and the team. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen took second, and Red Bull's Mark Webber was third.