Ron Hornaday’s success at Memphis Motorsports Park (MMP) is evident.  In his last six races, Hornaday has recorded two wins, completed each of the 1,208 laps of competition and has led a lap in every race at MMP except 2006. LAP LEADER: According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, in his four previous races at MMP, Hornaday has led more laps than any other driver.  Hornaday has paced the filed for 274 of the last 478 laps.

DEFENDING WINNER:

Hornaday comes into MMP as the defending race winner.  In 2008, Hornaday dominated this event leading 139 of the 204 laps. 20 AND COUNTING: With Hornaday’s win last weekend at The Milwaukee (Wisc.) Mile, Kevin Harvick Inc. has now recorded 20 Truck Series victories as a company.

RICK CARELLI TO BE INDCUTED INTO THE WEST COAST STOCK CAR HALL OF FAME:

On July 3,2009, Rick Carelli will be inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame at Irwindale Speedway in California . As a driver Carelli earned the 1991 NASCAR Southwest Touring Champion and the 1993 NASCAR Camping World Series West Champion titles as well as raced in the NASCAR Truck Series. Atthe inaugural Truck Series race at MMP in 1999, Carelli blew a left-front tire, careening into the wall in turns three and four. The impact resulted in a basil skull fracture and dissected artery.  Narrowly escaping death, Carelli missed the remainder of the 1999 Truck Series season, but returned to MMP one year later to dominate the ARCA race only to finish second with a last-lap pass. These days Carelli is still at the track, just in a different role as General Manager for Kevin Harvick Incorporated and as spotter for three time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday.

Notes from the Professor: Quotes from Ron Hornaday:

WHAT MAKES MEMPHIS UNIQUE COMPARED TO OTHER SHORT TRACKS?

 “Memphis tends to be very heat sensitive and it is typically very hot there. You never know what kind of track you are going to get. We anticipate a slick race surface, but if you get an overcast day your strategy might change.  During last year’s race I think we learned a lot of things we can use to make good adjustments to our truck this year.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TRACKS THAT HAVE SPECIALTY TROPHIES?

“I think it’s cool when a track goes the extra mile to make a trophy special.  I now have an Elvis trophy on my shelf.  When I won here in 1998 they had not gotten him yet. Lindy and I are big Elvis fans so adding that to my collection last year was really cool.   It is always fun to show people who come over to the house and it helps the win stick out in your mind.  This year they have a special prize for the pole.  It’s a neat incentive.  Any time you can go to victory lane though is special no matter what the trophy looks like.”

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 33 Longhorn team will bring chassis No.027 to Memphis Motorsports Park .  This is the same truck that went to victory lane last weekend at The Milwaukee Mile.

ABOUT SWEDISH MATCH:

Swedish Match is a global Group of companies with a broad assortment of market leading brands in smokeless tobacco, cigars and pipe tobacco, matches and lighters.  Some of our well known brands include Red Man, Timber Wolf, Longhorn, Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba and Borkum Riff.  Swedish Match North America is headquartered in Richmond , VA , with manufacturing facilities in Owensboro , KY , Dothan , ALA , and the Dominican Republic . For more information visit the website at www.SwedishMatch.com