KEEP ON TRUCKIN' HORNADAY AMONG THREE RETURNING TO RUN IN CRAFTSMAN SERIES THIS SEASON.Byline: Tim Haddock Staff Writer When Ron Hornaday Ron Hornaday, Jr. (born in Palmdale, California on June 20, 1958) is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and the son of Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two time Winston West Champion. Jr. made his debut into what has become the NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Craftsman Truck Series in 1995, he drove a truck owned by the late Dale Earnhardt This article is about the elder Dale Earnhardt. For his son, see Dale Earnhardt, Jr.. For the racing team he founded, see Dale Earnhardt, Inc.. Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and won six races, five poles and finished third in points. The next year, he won his first of two Truck Series championships. Hornaday used his time in the Truck Series to launch a lucrative career in NASCAR. He moved up the NASCAR ladder, racing for Earnhardt, Richard Childress Richard Childress (born September 21, 1945 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is a former NASCAR driver and successful team owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup competition. and A.J. Foyt along the way. He spent nearly a full season racing the Cup Series, albeit a trying one with Foyt as his boss. Ten years after making his debut, Hornaday is returning to his roots, so to speak. He will be driving the No. 6 Chevrolet Silverado for Kevin Harvick For the racing team owned by Kevin Harvick and his wife Delana, see . Kevin Michael Harvick (born December 8, 1975 in Bakersfield, California) is an American race car driver and car owner, competing in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving , Inc., and has the resources and equipment to make another run at a NASCAR championship. And he is not alone. Former Truck Series champions Mike Skinner Mike Skinner is the name of:
The 46-year-old Hornaday still holds the series record for victories with 26. Skinner won the first ever Truck Series race, by 0.09 seconds over Terry Labonte Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956, in Corpus Christi, Texas) is a former NASCAR driver. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had worked on racecars as a hobby for his friends. 10 years ago at Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix International Raceway, or just PIR, is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It opened in 1964, as the new home of major open-wheel racing in the Phoenix area, replacing the track at the Arizona State Fairgrounds as an automobile racing venue. . Hornaday remembers when the Truck Series started and the opportunities it presented. ``It was a place you wanted to race and make a name for yourself,'' said Hornaday, a former Saugus Speedway champion from Palmdale. ``With Jack and Mike Skinner back, it was fun before. Now it's going to be more competitive.'' Hornaday was one of the lucky ones when he started in the Truck Series. He had the backing of Earnhardt and the resources to put together a quality program. Sprague came to that first race in Phoenix with an unsponsored truck and a lot of hope. ``I was scared to death we wouldn't make the race having spent all the money to drive all the way from the East Coast because we couldn't afford the plane tickets,'' said Sprague, who eventually landed in a Hendrick Motorsports-backed truck. ``And I thought, wow, this is really cool and have been loving it ever since.'' Hornaday, Skinner and Sprague had some bitter battles in the early days of the Truck Series. In 1998, Hornaday defeated Sprague by three points to win his second championship. It was the closest points race in Truck Series history. ``Jack and I have been doing this a long time,'' Hornaday said. ``When we first started racing against each other, we raced real hard. Not to say we won't still race hard now, but we are older and wiser. We have fun together now.'' Hornaday raced for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in 1999, his last full season in the Truck Series. He since has made just four starts in the Truck Series, including this year's season opener at Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway is a superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is a 2.5 mile (4 km) tri-oval race track facility with a seating capacity of 168,000 spectators. . Another one of those races was in a Hendrick Motorsports Hendrick Motorsports is a group of NASCAR racing teams started by Rick Hendrick in 1984 under the name "All Star Racing", racing only Chevrolets, racing in both the Nextel Cup and Busch Series circuits. truck for the 2002 season opener at Daytona. ``I had just finished racing for A.J. Foyt and I wasn't sure what I was going to do next,'' Hornaday said. ``I asked Rick Hendrick Joseph Riddick Hendrick III (born July 12, 1949 in Warrenton, North Carolina), better known as Rick Hendrick is an owner of several NASCAR stock cars and teams, as well as Hendrick Automotive Group[1], one of the largest automotive chains in the United States. for some advice and he said that he would keep his eyes open if anything came up.'' By the end of the conversation, Hendrick asked Hornaday if he wanted to race at Daytona. They ended up using one of Hendrick's trucks that was being displayed in a museum. ``We didn't practice at all, but I was still able to qualify second,'' Hornaday said. ``I ran up front most of the day until someone got into me coming off of pit road. We were able to rally and I ended up finishing pretty well.'' Hornaday said he always has been fortunate to drive quality cars and trucks during his NASCAR career. This year he expects no less. ``Every car I've got into, I've been in great equipment,'' Hornaday said. ``I still got a desire to win races and championships. Every time I jump into something, I'm so competitive. You're only as old as you feel. I'm still competitive.'' CAPTION(S): 22 photos, box Photo: (1) Ron Hornaday is back racing trucks 10 years after making his debut on the circuit. Johnathan Ferrey/Getty Images (2) Kurt Busch (3) No. 97 Sharpie/Rubbermaid Ford Taurus (4) Jimmie Johnson (5) No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American mid-size car. Originally introduced by Chevrolet for the 1970 model year (as competition with the Ford Thunderbird), it has gone through six generations as of 2007. (6) Jeff Gordon (7) No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo (8) Mark Martin (9) No. 6 Pfizer/Viagra Ford Taurus (10) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (11) No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo (12) Tony Stewart (13) No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet Monte Carlo (14) Ryan Newman (15) No. 12 Alltel Dodge Charger (16) Matt Kenseth (17) No. 17 DeWalt Power Tools Ford Taurus (18) Elliot Sadler (19) No. 38 M&M's Ford Taurus (20) Jeremy Mayfield (21) No. 19 Dodge Dealers Dodge Charger Photos by Jamie Squire and Streeter Lecka/Getty Images (22) HORNADAY Box: CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS OF 2004 Associated Press |
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