This race saw the possibility of any one of the series' four top drivers in the points standings coming away with the championship. Going into the race Brendan Gaughan, driving the #62 Dodge Ram for Orleans Racing, was leading the standings. Ted Musgrave, driving the #1 Dodge Ram for Ultra Motorsports, was sitting second. Third place was Dennis Setzer, in the #46 Chevrolet Silverado for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, and fourth was held by Travis Kvapil, driving the #16 Chevrolet Silverado that Mike Bliss had won the series championship driving one year earlier for Xpress Motorsports.