(Loudon, N.H.) - The ACDelco Chevrolet and driver Ron Hornaday scored their sixth straight top-10 finish and moved into third place in the NASCAR Busch Series point's standings with a sixth place finish at New Hampshire International Raceway.

The weekend was one of the best to date for Hornaday.  He was the fastest car in the only practice of the weekend and looked to be a contender for the Busch pole in qualifying.  An early draw meant Hornaday was one of the first cars on the track, which is typically a disadvantage at NHIS.  The No. 2 ACDelco Chevy got loose in turn one and slid up the track, costing Hornaday a chance at the top spot.  Despite the trouble, Hornaday was good enough to qualify second.  Jamie McMurray won the Busch pole, the first of his career.

Rain washed away happy hour for the Busch Series, so the field was forced to go back to the notes from the first morning practice of the weekend.  Since Hornaday was the fastest car, the ACDelco team was confident that they had the car to beat.

The green flag waved to start the race and the "master of restarts" made his move.  Hornaday dropped underneath McMurray going into turn one and after a little bit of contact, took the top spot.  He pulled out to a three car length lead in the opening laps.  "The car is loose," said Hornaday.

On lap 19, the ACDelco Monte Carlo began to lap the back markers.  The traffic allowed Jason Leffler to close, but Hornaday continued to keep the challengers at bay.  "You and (Leffler) are the best cars out there," said ACDelco crew chief Butch Hylton.  "Just keep doing what you're doing."

The first yellow flag waved on lap 28, as Hermie Sadler's day came to an end.  Hornaday elected to stay out, but several cars from fourth on back made pit stops.  "We are a little tight in the center and free off," said Hornaday. "I used a lot of brake at the beginning...we need to tighten it up a little."

On the restart, Hornaday pulled away from the field.  He held a four car length lead over Leffler when the caution was displayed on lap 63.  The ACDelco Chevy hit pit road and the crew went to work.  They changed all four tires, but had a problem with the left front lug nuts and fell back to 14^th after the stop.  "We let you down there Ron, but I think we are okay.  The No. 00 is behind you and that's the car I was worried about."

The race went back green and Hornaday moved up to 12^th.  He complained that the car was now really loose.  "I'm sideways," said Hornaday.  As the laps ticked off, the "blue deuce" got better.  On lap 89, the yellow waved for debris in turn one.  "I'm a little tight in traffic," said Hornaday.  Richard Childress, the owner of the ACDelco Chevy, told Hornaday to get by the cars anyway he could.  "You need to get by them Ron," said Childress.  "Track position is everything." 

Hornaday reeled in the competition as the laps ticked off.  He cracked back into the top-10 on lap 94 and continued to march to the front.  On lap 98, Matt Kobyluck slammed the outside wall, bringing out the caution.  In the mess, Jason Keller ran Hornaday into the marbles and the No. 2 brushed the outside wall.  "The left fender looks good Ron, we need to stay out here if we can," said Hylton.  "It's okay," said Hornaday.  "The toe seems alright...I got run up into the marbles and I couldn't hang on," Hornaday was seventh.

The final stages of the race never got any better for Hornaday.  During the pit stop on lap 107, the rear tire got away from the crew and Hornaday was penalized to the back of the longest line.  He dropped from sixth to 17^th.  The team never gave up, despite the hardship.  Hornaday charged back to the front and by lap 154, he was back in the top-10.  But the ACDelco Chevy was all used up.  The car was super tight and Hornaday was fighting the car to get it to turn.  A late crash between Kyle Busch and Keller on a restart moved the ACDelco car to sixth.  That's where it would finish.  Matt Kenseth held off Tim Fedewa for the win.  Hornaday, by leading the most laps, collected 160 points and moved from fourth to third in the championship standings.  He now trails Martin Truex, Jr. by 338 points.

The next race for the NASCAR Busch Series is Saturday, July 31 when the ACDelco Chevrolet will try to make it seven in a row at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo., just outside Colorado Springs, Colo.