Motor Speedway to bounce back on the right track. Scattered showers plagued the Busch Series on Friday morning at the Michigan International Speedway and caused rain delays that eliminated a majority of their practice time.  The Busch teams did not get on the track until 2 pm for a shortened one-hour of qualifying practice before the time trials.  Hornaday circled the wide 2-mile oval in 39.222 seconds (183.570 mph) and earned the Dr Pepper Racing Team an eighth place starting position behind Pole Award winner #37 Kevin Lepage (38.784 sec/185.664 mph).

The Happy Hour Practice was canceled due to darkness and as a result the Busch Teams never got the chance to practice a race set-up.  Those drivers that were competing in both Winston Cup and Busch got an hour and a half of track time Saturday morning during Cup practices.  That aided them in dialing in their cars and at the end of the Cabela’s 250 the Top-4 finishers were all Cup drivers.

Right from the start, Ron began communication with Todd Lohse, Crew Chief, notifying him of the ill handling conditions.  The Dr Pepper Chevy had a push that wouldn’t allow the front end to turn while in traffic.  When the first caution came out the Dr Pepper Chevy came in on Lap 11.  A wedge adjustment, four tires and fuel was the call and upon his return to the track Ron commented that it got a little better but not enough.

A mandatory competition caution was waved on Lap 25 because there was no Final Practice on Friday.  This time the Thirst Crew adjusted the shocks and removed a spring rubber from the right rear tire, but the car continued to slide up the track.  Hornaday kept it together though and changed his driving line to suit the handling of the Dr Pepper Chevy.  Ron began to find a rhythm that worked and once again began putting cars behind him. 

Hornaday brought the Dr Pepper Chevy down pit road during each caution of the day, however the tight condition never left.  On Lap 76, the Dr Pepper Chevy got away from Hornaday sending him spinning on the backstretch and blowing all four tires.  He somehow was able to get the car back around the track and into the pit stall for four new tires, however when he got back on the track he felt something break on the car and brought it behind the wall for a closer look.  It was diagnosed as a broken oil line and the end of the day.

#99 Michael Waltrip went on to win the Cabela’s 250 in a close battle with #92 Todd Bodine with 10 laps to go.  The Dr Pepper Team only dropped one spot though in the Owners Standings to 18^th.

The next race for the Busch Series is one of the most anticipated races for all fans.  The Friday night race at the high-banked short track of Bristol Motor Speedway always seems to boil with high intensity and promises to be full of action.  Coverage will begin at 8 pm on TNT and PRN.