The weekend was filled with pressure and emotion.  It all started with an optional test on

Tuesday, which every car in the field took advantage of. Hornaday tested two different cars and both were quick.  The team settled on chassis No. 24, a car that they had not raced all year long.

In qualifying, Hornaday drove the car for all it was worth and in the end admitted he probably tried too hard.  A 17th starting spot put the ACDelco Monte Carlo behind, but it was nothing compared to what happened during "happy hour".  With just five minutes left in the final practice session, Hornaday's car slipped in turn three and slammed the outside wall with the right side.  It pancaked the sheet metal and bent the chassis.  Hornaday suffered sore ribs, but was okay.  The damage forced the ACDelco team to pull out the backup car.  Because of the change, Hornaday would be forced to start 43rd in the race.

You could feel the excitement on race day.  All six of the drivers involved in the tightest point's battle in history gathered for a picture around the Busch Series trophy.  The look on all their faces showed the emotional stress of the point's battle.  With only 39 points separating Hornaday from leader Brian Vickers, it was truly anybody's race.

At the drop of the green, Hornaday began his march to the front.  He passed several slower cars in the first two corners.  At the front of the pack, point's contender Scott Riggs got turned in turn three and slammed the wall, ending his championship dreams.  Hornaday was 30th at the line. 

On the restart, Hornaday again showed why he is nicknamed the "master of the restart."  He dropped the ACDelco Chevy down to the inside and charged four-wide into turn one.  He made the pass and was now 25th.  The championship chase took another strange turn, as David Green had a tire go down on lap 11, forcing him to pit road.  He lost two laps to the field and looked like he would not be a factor.

On lap 26, Hornaday radioed the team for the first time.  "The car is way too tight.  I can't get back in the gas," Hornaday said.  On lap 34, the yellow flag waved and the ACDelco Monte Carlo hit pit road for adjustments. The crew changed all four tires and took 2 rounds of wedge out of the left rear.  He left pit road in 20th position.

The middle stages of the race proved to be more of the same for Hornaday. The car continued to be tight, especially from the middle of the corner and off.  At the front of the pack, Jaime McMurray led Bobby Hamilton, Jr. and Kasey Kahne.  McMurray set a blistering pace and on lap 87, passed Hornaday putting him one lap down.  Just 10 laps later, McMurray and the rest of the leaders made their green flag pit stops and Hornaday not only got his lap back, but also took over the lead.  On lap 105, the caution was displayed and Hornaday was able to make his stop under yellow.  The crew made a major air pressure adjustment to help the car off the corner.  He would restart in 16th, on the lead lap.  During the caution, Green was able to benefit from the "lucky dog" rule and was now back on the lead lap.

Hornaday's car was better, but still didn't have what it needed to move forward.  The points were very tight, with Green in the lead and Hornaday third.  Vickers was one lap down at lap 140 and sat second in points.  But his luck would change for the better, when Greg Biffle blew a tire in turn one bringing out the yellow.  Vickers was the recipient of the "lucky dog" rule and was back on the lead lap.

The late stages of the race saw Hornaday and Vickers locked in a classic side-by-side battle for 14th.  But with the two cars racing hard, Green passed both and charged into the top-10.  Vickers eventually got by Hornaday and made his way to the front.  Hornaday battled the tight car as best he could, but finished 15th.  Green finished ninth, but Vickers made it to 11^th and in doing so, captured the NASCAR Busch Series title.  Green finished second in points with Hornaday third.

The season ended on a down note for the ACDelco Chevrolet.  34 weekends of hard work ended with disappointment.  But the team has a lot to be proud about in 2003.  After finishing 16th in points in 2002, they made their way back into title contention.  They won just one race, but were in the hunt for the win in several other events.  The ACDelco pit crew proved to be the best crew out there and Hornaday continued his reign as "King" of the restart.  While it wasn't the season everyone hoped for, it was that famous saying in sports that put everyone in a little better mood after the race. There is always next year.