BROOKLYN, Michigan (June 13, 2010)—- Ron Hornaday scored his career-best finish of fourth at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) Saturday in the VFW 200. Hornaday led twice for two laps and overcame a pit-road penalty and rebounded from a race-low running position of 27th to record his fifth top-five finish of 2010.
“I really thought we were going to be able to do it on the second to last restart,” said Hornaday after the race. ”I took it three wide and did all I could, but the truck was so tight when I was on the bottom that it wouldn’t turn, and then it would all of a sudden jump sideways. I’m really proud of the No. 33 team. This was the best truck that I have ever had in Michigan. We will take a fourth-place finish, but I’m disappointed we were not able to get a win for Longhorn in their final Truck race. They have been a wonderful sponsor and partner and we can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done for me and Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI).”
Hornaday started the VFW 200 from the second position, his highest starting position to date at MIS. Immediately, Hornaday challenged rookie polesitter Austin Dillion for the lead. Hornaday led lap one and was able to gain five bonus points. The leaders began to shuffle in the early laps of the race, exchanging the lead multiple times among several different trucks.
Hornaday had settled into the third position, when the first caution waved on lap three. Hornaday radioed to the crew that he was a little free and became aero-loose when he was surrounded by other trucks. The team decided to remain on the track, not wanting to lose valuable track position. Hornaday continued to run third when the second caution waved on lap 10. The No. 33 team decided to bring the truck down pit road for service. The team’s plan was only to take on fuel and make an air-pressure adjustment to the right-rear tire. Unbeknownst to the team, NASCAR had implemented a rule that stated no truck could add or remove air from a tire without taking the tire behind the wall. The No. 33 truck was called back down pit road to serve a pass- through penalty. Making the most of their situation, the team decided to top off with fuel. Hornaday restarted the race on lap 18 at the tail end of the longest line in the 27th position.
By lap 23, Hornaday had made his way back into the top 10. Nine laps later, the caution waved again for a quick rain shower that was moving through the area. The race was red flagged for approximately 45 minutes as the rain moved through and jet dryers dried the two-mile speedway. For the restart on lap 41, Hornaday was scored in the seventh position. Five laps later, Hornaday moved back into fifth. By lap 50, the halfway point in the race, Hornaday was fourth and radioed to the crew that the truck had gone from loose to tight.
Hornaday continued to try different lines around the two-mile track, breaking the draft to catch the lead pack and move toward the lead position. With green-flag pit stops ahead, the No. 33 team began to reel in the leaders. Hornaday was running in the third position when the leaders began to make pit stops. Hornaday waited until he led lap 76 before coming to pit road. The team called for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. While on pit road, Hornaday told the team to clean off the grill of the truck because the engine was running hot. The No. 33 truck had collected a small piece of debris in the grill which the team removed. After the stop, Hornaday told the team the truck was a little snug but he thought they had something for the leaders.
A caution waved on lap 83 of the 100-lap race, when the No. 88 truck lost an engine. Hornaday knew this was his shot at the win, taking the lead trucks of Todd Bodine and Kyle Busch three-wide going for the lead in turn one. Unable to hold the position on the bottom, Hornaday slipped back to fifth when the final caution of the day waved on lap 89. With only eight laps remaining when the race restarted, Hornaday ran down Timothy Peters to gain one additional position taking the checkered flag in the fourth position.
Aric Almirola went on to win his second race of 2010 followed by Bodine, Busch, Hornaday and Dillion. Hornaday remains fourth in the Truck Series point standings, 170 markers out of first. The Truck Series returns to action July 11th at Iowa Speedway.
STATS RECAP
Race Info
June 12, 2010
Michigan International Speedway
Race: 9 of 25
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Started: 2nd
Finished: 4th
Truck Series Point Standings: 4th (-170 points out of first)
Next on the Schedule for the No. 33:
Date: July 11, 2010
Track: Iowa Speedway
Event Name: Lucas Oil 200
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Broadcast Time: SPEED 1:30 p.m., EST MRN 2:00 p.m., EST