SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — Sam Hornish Jr. and Austin Dillon like where they are in more ways than one.
The top two drivers in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series are separated by only 17 points entering Saturday night’s 300-mile race at Kentucky Speedway, where both have succeeded in recent visits. Dillon has the edge here of the two, sweeping last year and finishing sixth in June.
Hornish finished just three spots behind the 23-year-old to post his third top-10 in as many starts on the 1.5-mile oval.
That sets up several possible scenarios for the series’ last stand-alone race this season. The drivers could flip positions, Hornish could distance himself from Dillon or things might remain tight — a dynamic that would shock neither driver considering how competitive they’ve been in what has been a rewarding year for both.
