M.B.N.A Cal Ripkin Jr. 400  

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and to the rescue workers during this difficult time. - Ron Hornaday 

Sept. 23 - After starting 8th, Ron and the AJ Foyt Racing #14 were running in the top 10 until the 24 car tapped the back of the Conseco Pontiac causing Ron to spin. Missing the wall and staying on the track in a spin, the AJ Foyt machine seemed to be fine, until the pack started spinning behind him and Ron was hit twice and sent to the inside wall.

"I guess the 24 car was in shock that he was racing the Conseco Pontiac and just lifted me up and caused me to spin. I never would have expected that from the championship points leader, but that's racing." Ron said after pulling the #14 into the garage at Dover.

"We have been running really well, I know we need to work on the pit stops. Going in 5th and coming out 10th, we could use some work there. It can put a good car in a bad place, like with the 24 car today:." - Ron

By race-end, Jeff Gordon made an apologetic statement to the press regarding the situation that caused Team Conseco to have yet, another bad day at the races.
 
Sept. 21 - "That was the lap we needed for this Conseco Pontiac. I think the biggest plus right now for me is driving that Busch car. The track got really loose on us, I came running over here and told Donnie and we put a little rubber in the left rear. That was just enough to keep the thing where we could use all of David Evans' motor. There was a little bit more left in the car, but I just wanted to get in the show safely. That's what you need to do when you're out of provisionals. We're happy with that lap. I'm very happy with the whole team. They've come a long ways. The car is driving good. I can't wait until Sunday."

"We've put together some good runs the last couple of races, but just can't seem to finish as strong as we've run. We had a really good car here back in June before we ran into some bad luck. I need a four-leaf clover or a rabbit's foot really bad. Anything to try and change our luck."-Ron 

Team Conseco will use chassis 1403 this weekend in the MBNA.com 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway. This car has been used twice so far this year. It first rolled off the truck in Texas where it qualified 20th and finished 40th after getting caught up in a wreck on the fourth lap of the event. The car was also used at the California Speedway where Hornaday qualified 35th finished 34th. Since that time the car has had the body replaced and is ready for Dover's Monster Mile.


In the June Dover race, Hornaday started 35th (field set by car owner points), but spent three quarters of the race in the top 10 before dropping a cylinder, and later, having the track bar come out from under the car on lap 365 to finish 35th.

Hornaday’s Track Record  

First Winston Cup Start:  1992 Sears Point - Started 17^th    Finished 32^nd 
Last Race:  Richmond  -  Started 10th   Finished 41^st
Best Start:  3^rd (Bristol 8/25/01)
Best Finish:  9^th (Las Vegas 3/4/01)
June Dover Race:  Started 35^th   Finished 35^th
Current position in Winston Cup Series Points: 36^th

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