HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (November 16, 2004) – Ron Hornaday will make the final start of his career in the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet this weekend at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.  Next year, Hornaday will make the move to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) and drive the No. 6 GM Goodwrench Silverado for Kevin Harvick, Inc.

It has been an exciting, yet ultimately uneventful two years for the Palmdale, Calif., native behind the wheel of the “blue deuce”.  Hornaday was hired to bring a championship back to the ACDelco colors, but the combination never seemed to click like the racing experts predicted.  What the two-time Truck Series champion did do was bring respectability back to ACDelco.  In 2003, Hornaday won two races and had a chance at the championship, before finishing third in points.  This year, Hornaday won just one event but has kept the No. 2 in the top-five in points all year.

“It has been a really great ride for me,” said Hornaday.  “The ACDelco car is the premiere car in the NASCAR Busch Series and I have been honored to be its driver.  I don’t think NASCAR fans realizes how important ACDelco has been to the Busch Series and to racing in general.  They are a great sponsor and I thank them for the opportunity of representing them.”  

With just one race to go, Hornaday has another accomplishment he would like to add to the Busch Series record book.  He has never posted a DNF in his two year tenure with RCR.  He currently holds the NASCAR record for most races without a DNF…in any series!  Hornaday has been running at the end of 72 straight races and wants to make it 73 this weekend.  “I think that is an impressive record and one that I’m proud of.  It speaks to the preparation that RCR has put into my cars and our ability to look at the big picture,” added Hornaday.

Points of Interest…

Homestead-Miami Track Stat… Homestead-Miami was a great track for Hornaday in the NASCAR Truck Series.  He won the 2002 NCTS event in a second Chevrolet Silverado for Xpress Motorsports and never finished worse than eighth in five truck starts.  He has starts in all three major NASCAR series at the 1.5-mile track.  His best NASCAR Busch Series start at Homestead-Miami is 17^th (2003).  His best NBS finish is 15^th (2003).   

New Crew for the No. 2… In preparations for next year, ACDelco crew chief Gil Martin and his entire crew will move over to work with Clint Bowyer on the Reese’s Monte Carlo.  Bowyer will drive the No. 2 ACDelco Chevy next year.  Chris Hussey will take over the crew chief role for Hornaday’s final event.  Hussey is no stranger to working with the No. 2.  Last year, he was Hornaday’s shock specialist and race day consultant.  The ACDelco car will be pitted by its current pit crew.

Record Breaker… Hornaday extended his NASCAR Busch Series record for consecutive races without a DNF last Saturday.  The ACDelco Chevrolet has been running at the end of 72 straight races.  The last DNF for Hornaday was an engine failure at Kansas Speedway in 2002.  In the modern era, no NASCAR driver has ever gone two straight years without a DNF.

What ya’ Haulin’… The ACDelco transporter will unload chassis No. 29.  The Robertson chassis was last raced at Pike’s Peak International Raceway on July 31 (11^th). The car was also raced at Kentucky Speedway, where Hornaday finished fourth.  It also scored a top-five at Nashville (TN.) Superspeedway and led much of the race at Nazareth (PA.) Speedway before finishing 11^th due to a problem on pit road. 

Ron Hornaday on Homestead-Miami Speedway…

What are your thoughts on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway?

“I am excited, but a part of me realizes this is the last time I will strap in the ACDelco Chevy and that is kind of weird.  I know that Clint (Bowyer) did a lot of testing at Homestead and felt really good about the test, so I hope we’ll have a good car.”

You have a new crew chief in Chris Hussey this weekend.  Is that a concern?

“No.  Chris knows me and we worked together all year last year, so it’s no big deal.  I think RCR wanted to get a jump start on next year with Clint, so Gil Martin and the guys are going to work with him.  They worked with him at the test as well.  Chris is a really bright guy.  He has been a (NASCAR NEXTEL Cup) crew chief in the past and knows the Busch Series cars, so I have all the confidence in the world this weekend.”

Knowing how much you love this series, are you feeling anything different since this is your last race?

“I don’t really get emotional about things like that until I walk down pit road to start the race.  At that time it will probably hit me, but just from the ACDelco/RCR side.  I have already sent in an entry to run at Mexico City and I know we are looking into some other Busch starts next year.  I just want to thank everyone from Anheuser-Busch Sports Marketing for everything they have done for me and the series.”