March 18, 2005 (Hampton, GA) - Friday night Ron Hornaday won the 27^th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race of his career under the lights at the Atlanta Motor Speedway just south of Atlanta. Victory Lane is not unfamiliar territory for the series’ all time leader in wins, but this trip to the checkered driveway was extra special for the two-time NCTS champion. The 46-year old veteran returned this year to the circuit that made his name synonymous with racing trucks to prove that he still had it, and after Friday night’s finish there should be no doubts.

When last season ended, GM Goodwrench and Kevin Harvick Incorporated (KHI) made the decision to replace Matt Crafton with Ron Hornaday in hopes of winning poles and races. Hornaday clearly had the resume to race trucks, but wanted to prove to everyone, including himself, that he was still the man to beat.

The No. 6 team looked strong at Daytona, but an unavoidable accident ended the hopes of winning the season’s first race.  In Fontana, the GM Goodwrench truck looked poised to win until a minor mistake during a pit stop dropped them out of the top-five. The team was 12^th in points, but knew they were capable of more. Then came the test at Atlanta and things began to fall into place.

Hornaday had never raced a truck in Atlanta so crew chief Wally Rogers took the team to Georgia to practice and let “the master of restarts” take a few laps. They were extremely happy with what they learned. “I had heard it was fast- now I believe it,” exclaimed Hornaday after testing. “If the fans thought they got a good show last year, they are in for a real treat this time around.”

Qualifying for Friday night’s World Financial Group 200 wasn’t great. Hornaday started 18^th, but there was a light in his eye – like he knew he was the favorite to win. The GM Goodwrench team was upbeat as well. They knew if they had a mistake-free night odds were in their favor.

Three perfectly executed pit-stops later Hornaday had gotten himself in a position to win the third race of the NCTS season. To accomplish this he would have to fight off defending series champion Bobby Hamilton, “Mr. Excitement” Jimmy Spencer, former NCTS champ Mike Skinner, and NEXTEL Cup regular/Atlanta specialist Bobby Labonte. A talented and experienced group of drivers all chasing after the same goal.

In the closing laps Hornaday appeared to have the race wrapped up, but pole setter Rick Crawford slammed into the wall bringing out the caution flag. This would require a restart, and a green, white, checkered finish. Over the radio Rogers was heard saying, “I can’t think of anyone that I would rather have in this position to restart than Ron Hornaday.”

Labonte got a good jump on the restart and passed Hamilton right away. On the final lap he was closing in on Hornaday and briefly took the lead on the backstretch. Hornaday got a good run in turn three as sparks flew out from under his truck. The two Chevrolet Silverados were racing side by side towards the finish line.    

So when Hornaday beat Labonte to the stripe in the closest race in NCTS history at a superspeedway, he had every right to celebrate. He had won before, but this time he showed how much it really meant to him. After burning the tires out all the way down the frontstretch, Hornaday continued the show all the way to Victory Lane. He smoked up the entire blocked off area causing the gathering crowd and ecstatic team to cheer and shout.

It was an appropriate celebration by a true wheelman, who showed everyone that he was back in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series and it was time to take notice. 

Added notes…

Hornaday moves to fifth in points. With the win the No. 6 GM Goodwrench team moves up seven spots to take over fifth in the championship points race. They are now just 103 markers off leader Bobby Hamilton. 

Hornaday on the win. “This win is awesome for GM Goodwrench! Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana gave me this opportunity in hopes that I could get the job done. This is one step closer to our goal of winning the NCTS championship. I am so happy right now. That was so much fun. This was such an exciting race, I hope the fans enjoyed the show that we put on tonight as much as I did. It doesn’t get much closer than it did tonight.”  

Hornaday credits team chemistry to rain in Daytona. After the race Hornaday said, “We really had a chance to gain cohesiveness when we went to test at Daytona before the season started. The rain delays gave me and the guys a chance to hang out and get to know each other and learn how we all work. Those kinds of things are important to team chemistry. When a team starts to gel they can really get momentum going. I think that we have good momentum going right now.”

Hornaday on building on a win. “I got reminded of how good it feels to win. I now know that I can get it done with this Chevrolet Silverado and this team, and now the team knows what I can do. We can really build on this, which will help us in our ultimate goal; winning a championship”