Dillon looks to pass Hornish

Only four points separate Austin Dillon and NASCAR Nationwide Series points leader Sam Hornish Jr., but Dillon is trying everything within his power to change that … and soon.

When NASCAR's No. 2 series arrives in Kansas for the Kansas Lottery 300 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Dillon will have passing Hornish on his agenda … both in the standings and the race.

"Sam Hornish Jr. and I are both really competitive and in order to win the championship, the No. 3 team is going to have finish ahead of him every weekend," said Dillon.

In Dillon's only trip to Kansas with the series last October, he finished runner-up to eventual series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., seven spots in front of Hornish. That was Hornish's only visit with the NASCAR Nationwide Series to the 1.5-mile track, too. In the season's first 28 races, Dillon finished in front of Hornish 12 times.

He has finished in the top five 10 times and in the top 10 18 times to go along with six poles, including a series-record four in a row. A trip to Victory Lane continues to remain elusive for the driver from Welcome, N.C.; however, he understands the value a top-three finish can have in helping him take over the lead sans a win.

"I think (winning the championship is) going to take top-five finishes, and by top-five finishes, I don't mean you can finish fifth every weekend for the rest of the year and win the championship," Dillon said. "I think you need to finish in the top three consistently."

Although he's winless in 2013, he's compiled six top-three finishes. Hornish, who won earlier in the season at Las Vegas, has nine top threes.

Staff Report - NASCAR Wire Service