Dr Pepper Racing Roll from the Mountains with Another Top-5 Finish
July 27, 2002 (Fountain, CO)- Ron Hornaday and the Dr Pepper Racing Team continued where they left off last week; and the week before that.  The #26 Dr Pepper Chevy has finished in the Top-5 four of the last five weeks and shows no signs of letting up.  Hornaday led laps for the second consecutive week and ran in the Top 5 for most of the afternoon before ending in fourth position at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR).

The #26 Dr Pepper Chevy was one of the top cars when it unloaded Friday afternoon.  Ron posted the 11th fastest lap (27.695 sec /129.987 mph) during the first practice session and ran a race trim set-up during Practice #2.  Hornaday picked up some speed during the Qualifying laps and earned a 7th place (27.570 sec / 130.577 mph) starting spot behind the Pole winner, #57 Jason Keller (27.314 sec. / 131.801 mph).

PPIR is a popular track among the drivers; its wide stretches and turns make for exciting side-by-side racing.  Hornaday has plenty of experience at PPIR by running Winston West, Craftsman Truck and Busch Series races there and considers it one of his favorite stops on the circuit. 

Hornaday quickly advanced as the green flag dropped moving into the Top 5 and soon battled Keller for the front position.  The second and final caution flag flew on Lap 20 and a few cars from the back of the pack came down Pit Road for some adjustments and fuel.  Hornaday remained on the track and grabbed the lead on Lap 44 before a heated battle with Keller exchanged the front spot back and forth before Hornaday regained it and charged out front.  The #26 Dr Pepper Chevy was brought down Pit Road on Lap 90 during green flag conditions still in front with a loose condition that was remedied with an air pressure adjustment.

The Dr Pepper Racing Team ventured back into the Top 5 again while the green flag pit stops cycled through, however the cars that pitted on Lap 20 were still out front.  It was a green flag race through the next pit sequence around Lap 185.  Once again, Todd Lohse, Crew Chief, called for a tire pressure adjustment, fresh rubber and fuel for the last sixty laps. 

The Dr Pepper Chevy remained near the front however #36 Hank Parker Jr. was off pit sequence with the rest of the field and was able turn the NetZero 250 into a fuel mileage race.  Parker Jr. had an 11-second advantage over second place #60 Greg Biffle; there were only nine cars on the lead lap at the end.  The 4th place finish keeps Carroll Racing 19th in the Owner Points Standings, but closes the gap of the next three spots.

The Dr Pepper Racing Team travels next to Indianapolis Raceway Park, the site of Ron Hornaday’s last Busch Series victory in August of 2000.  The Kroger 200 begins at 8 pm EST on August 3rd and will be covered on MRN and TNT.

Sponsor Exposure Update:  Dr Pepper Racing’s performance on the track has dictated plenty of attention recently during the television broadcasts.  This weekend’s exposure was maximized during a side-by-side battle with Jason Keller that utilized Keller’s in-car camera for multiple shots of the #26 Dr Pepper Chevy.  In addition, to the various newspaper, television and radio interviews Ron honors weekly, his wife got in on the mix last week.  Lindy Hornaday was featured on Totally NASCAR showcasing her antique and creative crafts store, Miss Estelle’s Place.