WEST ALLIS, Wisc. (June 21, 2009)—- Another weekend of rain postponed the Copart 200 from Friday night until Saturday afternoon. However, the extra day allowed Ron Hornaday not only to celebrate his 51st birthday, but his 41st Truck Series win at The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile. Hornaday and the No. 33 team dominated the Copart 200 leading all but 20 of the 200 laps. This marks the second time in Hornaday’s career that he has won on his birthday, the first coming at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in 1998. The victory also records KHI’s 20th Truck Series win.
“I’m really impressed at the gains this team made from the truck I had in practice,” said Hornaday. “I have to thank Rick Ren (crew chief) and all of my guys for working so hard on this truck. To be honest I don’t think our truck was all that good; we were just that much better than everyone else. You can’t anticipate having a truck as dominate as we had today. This is really cool. I have to dedicate this win to my mother-in-law who we call “Gram” she’s been in the hospital and is not doing too well. In the 30 years my wife and I have been married this is probably only the eighth race she’s missed. I hope this lifts her spirits a little. I have to thank all of our sponsors especially Copart for coming on board. This is the first week of the Copart Challenge of Champions pitting Todd (Bodine) and myself against each other. I guess I won round one.”
The Milwaukee Mile had planned a one-day show for the Truck Series on Friday. However, morning rain delayed practice and forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying setting the field by the 2009 NASCAR Truck Series Owner’s Point standings. Poised to begin the race, torrential rains forced the teams to spend an extra night in Milwaukee. When the Copart 200 finally began Saturday, Hornaday began the race from the third position. By lap three Hornaday had blown past Matt Crafton and rookie Brian Ickler to assume the lead.
The first caution of the race waved at lap 38 for debris on the track. The No. 33 and the rest of the field made their first scheduled stop of the race at lap 40 for four tires. The following lap everyone came back down pit road for fuel. A miscue on the tire stop resulted in lost spots for the No. 33. Hornaday restarted the race on lap 43 in the fifth position. Making quick work of the trucks in front of him, Hornaday retook the lead six laps later on lap 49. Hornaday paced the field for the next 61 laps as the race remained under green. At lap 121, Hornaday brought the No. 33 to pit road under green for a scheduled pit stop for fuel. Having maintained a sizeable lead prior to the pit stop, Hornaday was able to remain on the lead lap while green-flag pit stops cycled through the field. A caution on lap 128 caught the majority of the field one lap down to the leaders.
Hornaday and the No. 33 team came down pit road on lap 129 to put on four fresh tires and make an air-pressure adjustment to prepare for a run to the finish. Hornaday took the lead on lap 131 and never looked back. At one point Hornaday enjoyed a six-second lead over second position. Hornaday led the final 69 laps on the way to his 41st career victory. With the win Hornaday reassumes the Truck Series point lead by 36 markers over Matt Crafton.
STATS RECAP
Race Info
June 20, 2009
The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile
Race: 10 of 25
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Started: 3rd
Finished: 1st
Truck Series Point Standings: 1st (+1)
Next on the Schedule for the No. 33:
Date: June 26th
Track: Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park
Event Name: MemphisTravel.com 200 presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Broadcast Time: SPEED 5:30 p.m., EST MRN 5:30 p.m., EST