Hornaday, Team GMAC Looking for Luck at Talladega Superspeedway
TEAM GMAC PRE-RACE REPORT

TALLADEGA, AL. (April 15, 2002) - Ron Hornaday, Jr. has one request for Talladega Superspeedway. After a couple of weeks of bad luck, the driver of the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet Monte Carlo is looking for a break at Talladega - the worlds fastest closed racing course. "Every car we've brought to the track this season has been strong," said Hornaday. "Now we need is a little luck,

something we've had little of the last couple of races. The goal at Talladega will be to stay out of the big wrecks you have there and see the checkered flag. Missing the big wreck at Talladega takes a lot of luck. I'd rather be lucky than good any day when it comes to staying out of trouble at Talladega."

As with every restrictor plate race on the NASCAR Busch Series tour, Hornaday will also need a drafting partner to get to and stay at the front of  the pack. At Talladega, the biggest track on the tour at 2.66 miles, Hornaday will have just that in his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jack Sprague. "I'm going to need Jack," said Hornaday. "If you don't have someone to run with at Talladega, you aren't going anywhere. Drafting is crucial and working with Jack is going to be the most important thing. We will try to get together, draft up to the front and stay there."

Talladega is famous for its long drafting trains and equally infamous for its field-consuming wrecks. With speeds approaching 200 miles per hour, accidents happen fast and drivers must remain ever alert to stay out of trouble.

"We are confident in Ron and the equipment," said Team GMAC crew chief Lance McGrew. "We need some luck to stay out of trouble so we can race the last couple of laps and take home a whole race car. The wrecks at Talladega are big, but Ron's not scared. We're bringing our car from Daytona and it was fast there, so we know we will come in with a good set-up. We just want to be there to race at the end."

Meanwhile, Team GMAC driver Ricky Hendrick remains on the sidelines, watching and learning from the veteran Hornaday. The 22-year old Charlotte, NC native hopes to return to the driver's seat in Richmond, VA. after his doctor's declare a full recovery from a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and corrective shoulder surgery in March.

Hornaday and Team GMAC Chevy will roll off In the Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway, Saturday, April 20 at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event will be the eighth of 34 NASCAR Busch Series races this season and will be telecast live on FOX and MRN Radio.