After a series of wins in both the NASCAR West Series and NASCAR Southwest Tour, Hornaday made his debut at PIR in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995.  And he promptly put his No. 16 Chevrolet Silverado on the pole.  No other driver in NCTS history has had the success that Hornaday has at PIR.  He scored back-to-back NCTS wins at the track in 1998 and 99.

In 2000, Hornaday moved to the NASCAR Busch Series and once again showed the rest of the NASCAR nation his rear bumper.  In his five NBS starts, Hornaday has four top-five finishes.  Yet he has failed to find victory lane in the Busch Series; a statistic that Hornaday would like to change this year.

“I think we have a great chance to put the ACDelco Chevy in the winner’s circle,” said Hornaday.  “Phoenix has been one of my best tracks and it has been something small that has cost us a win over the last few years.  Hopefully we can have great pit stops and avoid trouble this time out.”

Hornaday will have double-duty this weekend at PIR.  He will be driving the no. 47 Chevrolet Silverado All-Star truck on Friday afternoon.  Hornaday last raced in the truck series back in November of 2002 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  He won that event.

“I am really looking forward to the truck series race.  This Silverado All-Star truck has had great success all year long, but it has yet to see victory lane,” said Hornaday.  “That is our goal this weekend and I can’t think of any track were our chances would be any greater.  I can’t wait!”

Points of Interest…

Phoenix Track Stat…. Best NBS start – 2^nd.  Best NBS finish – 4^th.  Best PIR start NCTS – 1^st (1995).  Best PIR finish NCTS – 1^st (98-99).

Favorite Tracks…. Hornaday has always claimed his favorite tracks are the ones he wins at.  So PIR must rank right up there.  Hornaday won multiple times in NASCAR West Series action and also in the NASCAR Southwest tour.  He dominated in the NASCAR Truck Series as well, winning back to back spring races in 1998 and 99.  

Record Breaker… Hornaday extended his NASCAR Busch Series record for consecutive races without a DNF.  The ACDelco Chevrolet has been running at the end of 70 straight races.  The last DNF for Hornaday was an engine failure at Kansas Speedway in 2002.

What ya’ Haulin’… The ACDelco transporter will unload chassis No.19 at PIR.  It is the same car that Hornaday recently raced at Dover (seventh), Kansas (fifth) and Lowe’s Motor Speedway (15^th).

Ron Hornaday on Phoenix International Raceway…

What are your thoughts on racing at Phoenix International Raceway?

“Phoenix is like a home away from home.  We won a lot of NASCAR Southwest Tour, Winston West and Truck Series races.  We also came close several times in the Busch Series.  I just really like the track and figured out the best way to drive it.  I don’t want to give out my secrets though.”

Has the newer configuration given you any trouble?

“I like what they have done to the track.  It hasn’t affected me that much.  It changed some of the visual clues I had for braking, but it didn’t take long to find new ones.  I think the fans have better sight lines, so that is great for them.”

How will racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event help you this weekend?

“I’m not sure that it will help our ACDelco Chevy that much.  This track doesn’t change a whole lot like some others and I have plenty of laps around here.  The main thing we can learn is how the tires fall off during a long green flag run.  That information can help us late in the race as far as pit strategy goes.  I am excited to be back in the trucks this weekend.  It should be a lot of fun.”