SHORT-TRACK ACE: Over the course of Ron Hornaday’s 12 year NASCAR Truck Series career, he has visited victory lane 19 out of the 43 times at short tracks (less that 1-mile in length).  Thus far in 2009, Hornaday has recorded one short-track victory, his second career win at Memphis Motorsports Park in June. 

LUCKY NUMBER “2” FOR THE No. “33”: Hornaday has picked up two victories at O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) in his NASCAR Truck Series career; the first in 1997, followed by another victory 10 years later in 2007. Coincidently, both wins have come when Hornaday started the race from the second position. In 1997, he took the lead with two laps to go and held on for his first ORP win. Ten years later in 2007, Hornaday notched his second ORP victory after he led 90 laps.  Hornaday has finished third or better in each start at ORP while driving a Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) vehicle. 

LOOP LEADER: According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics over the last four races held at ORP, Hornaday leads 10 statistical categories, including highest average finish of 2.3, laps led with 243 and the highest driver rating of 130.5.

RESTART KING: Two weeks ago while in Chicago en route to his fourth win of the 2009 season, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran Mark Martin gave credit for his race-winning restart to Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday from victory lane. Statistics back Martin up as Hornaday currently leads all drivers with the fastest restart time at ORP by almost one mile per hour (MPH) over Rick Crawford.

Notes from the Professor: Quotes from Ron Hornaday:

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SO GOOD AT SHORT TRACKS?

“I really like racing at ORP and tracks like it. I grew up racing on tracks very similar to it.  I think knowing how to race guys and knowing when to pass on short tracks has been the key to my success. Luck has had a lot to do with it too.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TITLE “RESTART KING”?

“I don’t know that I would say I’m the king at anything.  I appreciate that people like Mark Martin watch me to gain pointers.  Restarts have always been something that I worked on.  I think I have a pretty good system right now.  As competitive as the Truck Series is, you have to have something up your sleeve to get an advantage.  I guess restarts are my thing.”

CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 33 VFW team will bring a brand new chassis to ORP.  Chassis No. 33 makes its competition debut this weekend.  Two weeks ago, the team took this truck to a Goodyear tire test session at Bristol ( Tenn. ) Motor Speedway for the only laps this chassis has participated in on track.    

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Last week at Kentucky Speedway Hornaday and the No. 33 team recorded their fourth win of the 2009 season.  Hornaday became the first repeat winner at Kentucky Speedway.  The win also marked the second time in Hornaday’s 12 year Truck Series career that he has won three races in a row.  In 1997, Hornaday recorded wins at The Milwaukee Mile, Louisville Motor Speedway, and Colorado National Speedway.  Thus far this season Hornaday and the No. 33 team have tallied wins at The Milwaukee Mile, Memphis Motorsports Park and Kentucky Speedway. Hornaday continues to lead the Truck Series point standings for the third consecutive week.

ABOUT VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW):

Headquartered in Kansas City , Missouri , the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United State ) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and ensuring the rights of America ’s veterans through advocacy, support and community service, while promoting patriotism.  The VFW offers a wide array of services to support veterans and their families throughout their military career, from active duty to honorably discharged.  For more information, visit: www.vfw.org or call (816) 756-3390.