It seemed like the race would never be raced at all.  The ACDelco team watched the rain fall for most of Friday afternoon.  After qualifying fifth, Ron Hornaday felt like he had a car that would be dominant during the cool evening.  Hornaday’s teammate Kevin Harvick won the Bud pole.  

Despite wet conditions, NASCAR attempted to get the race in on Friday night.  The cars actually took the green flag and the yellow combined in an effort to keep heat in the damp track and dry it sooner.  But the rain came back once again and NASCAR was forced to postpone the race until Saturday morning.

As the ACDelco team arrived at the track early Saturday, the rain had turned to a light mist, giving everyone hope that the race would take place.  After several hours of track drying, the race was on.

Originally the field took the green and yellow once again to keep heat in the track.  NASCAR asked Hornaday to give them feedback on the racing surface and when Hornaday said it was good, the field got the one to go signal.  On lap seven, the field took the green for real.  Hornaday got a great jump and moved past Mike Bliss into fourth.

On lap 11, Hermie Sadler hit the wall in turn four bringing out the day’s first official caution.  Hornaday radioed the crew that the car was “throttle tight and just a little snug.”  On the restart, Hornaday was passed by Joe Nemechek and moved back into fifth.  Just 10 laps later, Hornaday was caught on the outside and fell into eighth.  On lap 41, Hornaday’s tight car had dropped him outside the top-10 for the first time during the event.

Hornaday’s ACDelco Chevrolet continued to slide back in the field.  On lap 61, he told the crew to “somehow get this car off the left front tire.  It’s sliding the nose from the middle off.  It’s so tight in the middle, that I am loose off,” said Hornaday.  On lap 68, the ACDelco Chevy made its way down pit road.  The team changed all four tires and took wedge out of the car to help it in the middle.  The crew ripped off a 15-second stop and put Hornaday back out on the track in 12^th.

The car continued to be tight and Hornaday did his best to keep the car on the lead lap.  On lap 91, Jeff Burton lost a motor bringing out the yellow.  Hornaday came down pit road and the crew pulled a spring rubber out of the left rear.  Hornaday would restart 17^th.

The change had been what the car needed.  Hornaday radioed to crew chief Rick Viers, “the car is a lot better.  Whatever you did, do it again times two,” said Hornaday.   As the ACDelco car tried to find its groove, Greg Biffle was blistering the field.  His car dominated the middle and end portions of the race.  Hornaday eventually got the car to his liking, but it was too late to make much of a charge.  The ACDelco Monte Carlo took the checkered flag in 12^th position.  Biffle won the race, with point’s challenger Brian Vickers finishing fifth.  Current point’s leader David Green finished sixth and extended his lead over Hornaday to 76 points. 

The NASCAR Busch Series returns to action at Memphis Motorsports Park on Saturday, October 18th.  Hornaday is fourth in the NASCAR Busch Series point’s standings.