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exactly that
before a minor
glitch with the
throttle pedal
cost Hornaday
some valuable
track position
and designated
him to a 14th
place finish.
Loudon
used to be a
much tighter
flat track where
positioning was
of the utmost of
importance
before a design
reconfiguration
added more apron
room that
enables another
groove for
passing.
The
recent track
change supplied
a more
competitive and
exciting race
for the fans to
watch and for
the drivers to
run.
Hornaday
proved this
point with no
hesitation when
the Green Flag
waved.
The
Dr Pepper Racing
Team qualified
16th
for the 200-lap
race and quickly
moved up the
charts.
Ron
picked up five
positions within
his first two
laps and then
broke into the
Top-10 upon a
restart
following the
first caution
flag on Lap 7. A
missed gear by a
driver in the
front of the
pack caused a
multitude of
cars to check up
and get banged
up.
Hornaday
avoided all the
trouble and took
advantage of the
opportunity to
make his way
into 6th
place by Lap 10.
10
positions gained
in 10 laps
driven to start
with his new
team; that is a
great sign of
things to come.
Hornaday
rode steady with
the lead pack
and jumped into
the Top-5 on Lap
30 when he
passed by the
pole-sitter #47
Shane Hmiel.
The
second caution
flag of the day
came out as #60
Greg Biffle blew
an engine,
moments after
taking the lead
from the
eventual race
winner Bobby
Hamilton Jr. on
Lap 76.
Ron
brought the Dr
Pepper Chevy
down pit road
for some service
from the
“Thirst
Crew” in the 5th
position.
There was
a minor problem
however; the
throttle pedal
of the #26
Dr Pepper
Chevy was
sticking.
Hornaday
needed to enter
the pits for a
second time on
the next lap in
order for the
“Thirst
Crew” to open
the hood and
remedy the
problem.
Unfortunately,
when Hornaday
restarted
following the
caution he was
back in 17th.
The
Dr Pepper
Chevy’s
handling became
tight throughout
the second half
of the race
making it more
difficult to
pass underneath
the cars ahead.
Hornaday
intelligently
kept the car out
of trouble and
ran laps hoping
the car would
correct itself
throughout the
run.
Ron
picked up a few
spots here and
there as he was
running in 15th
when the Dr
Pepper Racing
Team made their
final pit stop
on Lap 133 when
the third
caution flag
waved.
The
learning curve
of communication
between Ron and
Todd (Lohse,
Crew Chief) is
on step one and
the car was
actually tighter
than thought.
When the
Dr Pepper Chevy
returned to the
track, Ron once
again took no
time in marching
towards the
front elevating
himself to 13th
when the last
caution of the
day waved on Lap
145.
The last
run however was
much tougher in
that the car had
a lot of trouble
turning.
The
experience and
fire showed in
Ron as he
steadied the Dr
Pepper Chevy and
finished
unscathed with a
14th
place finish.
“It
was a good start
for us,”
claimed
Hornaday.
“We
wanted a little
higher finish
but ran in the
Top-10 for the
first half and
ran into some
problems in the
second half.
There are
a few things we
have to work on
but this is a
great group of
guys on this Dr
Pepper Team and
I look forward
the time ahead.
We’re
going to head
into Nazareth
and look to
improve each
week
consistently and
the results will
show.”
“This
whole Dr Pepper
Team is pleased
with the way we
ran today and
excited for the
future,”
expressed Todd
Lohse.
“The
throttle pedal
stuck during our
first pit stop
that dropped us
to the back and
as expected
there was a tiny
bit of a
communication
gap between Ron
and myself.
It is our
first race
together and Ron
was telling me
the car was
tight and we
just didn’t
loosen it up
enough for him.
We ran
competitively
throughout the
day and it will
continue as we
grow together,
it was a great
start in our
eyes.”
The
Dr Pepper Racing
Team heads next
to Nazareth, PA
for the Stacker
2 200.
Nazareth
Speedway is very
similar to the
old design of
Loudon.
It is a
flat oval that
stresses track
positioning.
The Busch
Series race will
be on Sunday,
May 19th
and begins at 1
pm EST with
coverage
starting at
12:30 pm EST on
FX and MRN |
