CLERMONT, Ind. (July 25, 2009)—- Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet Silverado team made NASCAR Truck Series history Friday night by winning an unprecedented four races in a row. The win marks Hornaday’s third trip to victory lane at O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) at Indianapolis and his 44th career victory. Of his 44 career wins, 20 of those have come at tracks less than one mile in length. Hornaday and the No. 33 team extended their Truck Series points lead to 174 markers over second place Mike Skinner.
“I have to thank Kevin and DeLana (Harvick),” said Hornaday in victory lane. “People ask me how I do it and it is those two people right there. They just keep putting trucks underneath us and putting the right people in place at the shop. This is so awesome. I have to thank Mark Smith and everyone at the motor shop, PME and especially all of the fans. This is so cool to come around and see them put their hands up. This is what makes it so special.
We were just really tight on those long runs and I just kept playing with the rear brake. Then (Mike) Skinner put those tires on and I thought he had us; although, I had searched and found a groove that worked. If you miss it by a half inch, you are going to get loose up off. I concentrated every time and when Skinner got that good run off of there, he could have put me up against the fence, but he didn’t. We haven’t got a mark on this truck. I have to thank Mike for that. Colin Braun ran one heck of a race. Man this is what the Truck Series is all about, this is a lot of fun.”
Hornaday began the AAA Insurance 200 from the fourth starting position. By lap three, Hornaday had moved into second, chasing rival Truck Series veteran Mike Skinner for the lead. At lap 20, Hornaday radioed to crew chief Rick Ren that he was too tight in the center of the corner. The first caution of the race waved at lap 38, as the No. 1 truck spun into the outside wall. Looking to complete the 200-lap event on only one pit stop, Ren made the call to leave the No. 33 truck on the race track as other trucks came to pit road with varying pit stratgey. The race restarted on lap 43. Hornaday dove to the inside of Skinner to try and capture the lead; however the No. 33 VFW truck was unable to make the move. As the race continued to run under green Hornaday battled Skinner for the lead position. On lap 62 his efforts paid off as he assumed the lead for the first time.
Hornaday was able to hold off Kyle Busch for the lead when the second caution of the race waved at lap 92. In their pit window, the No. 33 team brought Hornaday down pit road for the first and only scheduled pit stop of the night. On lap 95, the team changed four tires and made an air-pressure adjustment. A quick stop got the No. 33 off pit road in the lead position. The following lap, Hornaday came back down pit road for two cans of fuel. Other competitors had taken on fuel during the previous round of pit stops and did not have to take two full cans allowing them the restart ahead of Hornaday, who would drop back to the third position for the restart at lap 101.
Battling Busch and Todd Bodine for the lead the top four trucks ran bumper to bumper all vying for the top spot by lap 139. As the race continued, team co-owner Kevin Harvick came over the radio encouraging Hornaday and letting him know he was the fastest truck on the race track. With 50 laps remaining, Hornaday made his way back into the second position. The caution flew for the third time at lap 161. The No. 33 team decided to remain on the race track to maintain track position. The No. 5 truck of Skinner who was running in the eighth position and the No. 51 of Busch choose to come to pit road for four fresh tires. The race restarted on lap 165 and four laps later Hornaday reassumed the lead for the final time. Two late cautions allowed the No. 5 of Skinner to close the gap to Hornaday. By lap 190 the top four were bumper to bumper again fighting for the lead. Hornaday was able to pull away from the field on the final lap to record his fourth straight win and his third at ORP. Mike Skinner, Aric Almirola, Dennis Setzer and Colin Braun rounded out the top five.
Hornaday led the most laps (67/200) in route to his fifth victory of 2009. With the victory crew chief Rick Ren ties Dennis Conner for all-time Truck Series wins with 26.
STATS RECAP
Race Info
July 25, 2009
O’Reilly Raceway Park
Race: 13 of 25
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Started: 4th
Finished: 1st
Truck Series Point Standings: 1st (+174)
Race length: 200 Laps/ 137.2 Miles
Track layout: 0.626-mile
Shape: Oval
Number of Race Cautions: 5 for 27 Laps
First Practice: Seventh (23.019 seconds; 107.285 mph)
Final Practice: Fourth (22.742 seconds; 108.592 mph)
Qualifying: 4th (22.537 seconds; 109.531 mph)
Next on the Schedule for the No. 33:
Date: August 1, 2009
Track: Nashville Superspeeday
Event Name: Toyota Tundra 200
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Sponsor: Longhorn
Broadcast Time: SPEED 7:30 p.m., EST MRN 7:00 p.m., EST