field of Busch Grand National competitors.  The Dr Pepper Chevrolet qualified up front in the 7^th position, but like many others, it’s handling varied throughout the race.  At times it drove like a Top-5 car and at other times Ron had to struggle to keep it off the wall.  Hornaday managed to return the car with all the fenders on it and ended with a 21^st place finish.  Carroll Racing remains in the 19^th spot of the Owner Points Standings.

The Dr Pepper Racing Team was excited for Saturday’s competition as a result of their track performance on Friday afternoon.  Ron claimed the 7^th starting position during the time trials before running the final practice session.  In Happy Hour, Hornaday had complete control over the Dr Pepper Chevy; he was able to either hug the line down low or roll throughout the corners of the high-banked oval.

The MBNA All-American Heroes 200 began the way Dr Pepper Racing had wished.  Hornaday had a rocket underneath him and picked off a couple spots moving him into the Top-5 by the time the first caution came out on Lap 5.  Green flag racing resumed and as the laps went by the car began to tighten up as the Goodyear tires wore down.  Hornaday radioed to Todd Lohse, Crew Chief, that the Dr Pepper Chevy was extremely tight throughout the turns and that we needed to come in and fix it when we got a chance.  That chance did not come until Lap 76, unfortunately Ron went a lap down on Lap 62 and was now in 26^th.

Lohse called for a tire pressure adjustment in the four fresh Goodyears along with a large wedge adjustment to improve the traction of the front tires.  The Thirst Crew went to work and quickly got Ron back out on the track fast enough that he was the second car that was down one lap; #98 Kasey Kahne only took on two new tires.

When the green flag dropped, Ron passed Kahne with no trouble and had his sights on the leader, #21 Jeff Green.  Hornaday battled and battled hoping for a quick caution that would enable him to sneak back on the lead lap.  That quick caution never came though instead this next cycle of green flag laps lasted 57 laps.  The Dr Pepper Chevy was a completely different car though this time around.  The wedge adjustment Lohse called for had the car driving much better and Hornaday was able to run laps just as fast as the Top-3 cars.

The caution came back out on Lap 140 and Lohse and Hornaday decided to loosen the car up but this time just a little.  A minor wedge adjustment, four new tires and gas was the call and Hornaday was back racing.  For some reason though, when the Dr Pepper Chevy returned it was like night and day from the last run and back to how it started.  Ron couldn’t turn the car in the corners without it drifting up the track; forcing Hornaday to come off the throttle earlier.

When the handling woes returned, Hornaday was forced just to hold on to the car and keep the fenders on it.  Ron and the Dr Pepper Racing Team finished 21^st and stayed in the 19^th position of the Owner Points Standings.  Meanwhile, #23 Scott Wimmer collected his first Busch Grand National Victory.

Dr Pepper Racing will head to Kansas City Speedway next weekend for the Mr Goodcents 300 on Saturday Sept. 28^th at 2 pm EST.  Coverage can be found on TNT and MRN.