five finish, moved Hornaday closer to the top of the NASCAR point’s standings.  He trails new leader Brian Vickers by just 40 points.

Hornaday was one of the top guns in Memphis all weekend.  In fact, Hornaday felt he had a great shot at the pole position.  In qualifying, Hornaday posted the fifth fastest time of the day.  “We had the wrong gear in the car,” said Hornaday.  “I drove it in there really deep and the ACDelco Chevy stuck.  I got right back in the gas, but the car just wouldn’t go.  I had it (the throttle) mashed to the floor coming off the corner, but it didn’t have that surge you really need when trying to get the pole.”  David Reutimann won the pole, substituting for Greg Biffle.

The final practice of the day proved to be even better for Hornaday and the ACDelco team.  The “blue deuce” took to the track and ran 20 laps near the top of the speed chart.  “The car is perfect,” said Hornaday.  “It’s awesome.  It’s completely neutral.  I’m trying to think of something that doesn’t feel right and I can’t.”  The ACDelco team used the remaining practice to scuff tires and work on race day adjustments.

It was a clear and sunny day in Memphis, TN, on race day.  Since Biffle was taking over the pole winning car, he would have to go to the back of the field on the start, which meant Hornaday’s inside line would move up.  At the drop of the green flag, Hornaday started third.  It only took three laps for the caution flag to wave.  Jason Schuler and Jerry Reary got together in turn three bringing out the yellow.  On the restart, Hornaday passed Kyle Busch for second.  Once again, the caution waved just a few laps later, as Larry Gunselman crashed in turn four.  Hornaday told the crew that it “took a while for the brake pads to come in, but the car was pretty good, though maybe a tick tight.”

Hornaday chased leader Brian Vickers for the next 41 laps.  He stayed within a car length of the leader just clicking off laps.  At lap 57, the caution waved and it was time for pit stops.  The ACDelco Chevrolet made its way down pit road and the “blue crew” went to work.  The team made an air pressure adjustment and went one round up on the track bar as Hornaday felt the car was tight in the center.  As the crew completed right side tires, the right rear tire got away and rolled into the next pit box.  Chris Martin, the rear carrier, had to go get the tire, forcing Aaron Smith, the rear changer, to have to put the left rear on the hub himself.  The extra time hurt the team and Hornaday left pit road in 10^th. 

On the restart, Hornaday immediately noticed a difference in the car.  “It’s really, really tight,” said Hornaday.  Crew chief Rick Viers calmly told Hornaday, “just wait for the pressures to come up.  It will be better.”  The pressures did come up and Hornaday was able to get by Casey Atwood and Mike Bliss for the eighth position.  By lap 88, he had passed Scott Wimmer for seventh, though the car was still too tight to make a run at the lead pack.  The laps continued to click off and Hornaday slowly caught the lead pack.  It seemed the longer the green flag run the faster his car went or at least didn’t fall off.

On lap 161, the ACDelco Monte Carlo passed Vickers and was back in the top-five.  Just four laps later, Justin Hobgood crashed off turn two bringing out the caution.  Hornaday hit pit road and the crew went to work.  They changed all four tires and put the track bar back to where it was at the start.  Hornaday came in fifth and left in second.

The master of the restart worked his magic at the drop of the green.  Hornaday blew by Jason Keller and took over the lead and five bonus points.  “Guys this thing is pretty loose,” said Hornaday.  Hornaday led for the next 11 laps, before his teammate Johnny Sauter decided to put a bumper to the ACDelco Chevy.  With Hornaday leading, Sauter closed in the middle of turns one and two and hit the back of the No. 2 Monte Carlo, sending Hornaday up the track.  The move not only put Sauter in the lead, but allowed Keller and Bobby Hamilton, Jr. to line up on Hornaday’s inside.  Keller and Hornaday battled side by side for five laps, before Keller and Hamilton got by.  “These tires are way off or something,” said Hornaday.  “You have no idea how loose this car is.”  Hornaday was able to keep control of the loose car, but never could close back in for a chance at the win.  He finished with his seventh top-five of the year.  It was only his second top-five finish since July 4^th at Daytona.

The race for the win was one of the best of the year.  Sauter held the lead late until Hamilton, Jr. used the same move Sauter used on Hornaday.  Hamilton, Jr. bumped Sauter up the track and got underneath to take the lead.  Keller also slipped underneath and took over second with Sauter third.  It was Sauter’s final race in an RCR Chevrolet.  It was Hamilton’s third win of the year.  Point’s leader David Green had engine trouble and finished 19^th.

Hornaday’s finish helped him close the gap in the NASCAR Busch Series point’s battle.  Hornaday remains fourth, but is now just 40 points out of first place with four races to go.  Vickers took over the lead, with Green second and Keller third.  Scott Riggs dropped two places to fifth, 44 points out of first.  The 44 points between first and fifth make this the closest battle in Busch Series history.