TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 31, 2010)—- Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) E-Z-GO team came to Talladega still riding the momentum from last weekend’s win at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. When the weekend began, Hornaday had never led a lap at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. Following practice the team had high hopes for a solid qualifying effort and Hornaday didn’t disappoint as he put the No. 33 truck on the pole, marking his first career pole at a superspeedway and Chevrolet’s first Truck Series pole at Talladega. Hornaday piloted the truck to the front of the field, leading the most laps, 49 total. Late in the race Hornaday became mired back in the field, and in an effort to win the race, Hornaday jumped to the outside line with a push from Todd Bodine. With three laps remaining the “big one” hit, and Hornaday ended his race at Talladega flipping and barrel rolling down the front straight-a-way just past the start/finish line, landing on his roof. The team was unable to make repairs relegating him to a 21st-place finish.
“Well you never want to end a race like that,” said Hornaday after exiting the infield care center. “Kevin always said if you can’t win the race come back with the steering wheel, but darn such a good truck all these guys work so hard. I have to thank NASCAR and all the safety workers who got to my truck so fast. I really appreciate their efforts. It’s Talladega, I’m not even sure who turned me, but the turning point of our day was when I came to pit road under green and I got on the brakes pretty hard and Todd [Bodine] got into me. It probably ruined both our days. I have to say, though, we led a lot of laps and I learned a bunch today. It was fun, I have to thank Kevin and DeLana [Harvick] again and I want to thank E-Z-GO. We’re going to get them a win before the end of the year!”
Hornaday began the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s from the pole position, marking his first-career pole at Talladega Superspeedway and Chevrolet’s first Truck Series pole at a superspeedway. The No. 33 chose to take the outside lane, and as the race began, Hornaday was hung out to dry, falling to ninth before the completion of lap one. However, he quickly made his way back up through the pack when he found a drafting partner in Todd Bodine. Hornaday took the lead for the first time in his career at Talladega on lap 10. Once out front, Hornaday radioed to spotter Rick Carelli to ask Bodine what line he wanted to run. Hornaday and Bodine drafted nose to tail until the first caution of the afternoon waved on lap 22. The timing of the caution was perfect for the No. 33 team, who had planned to come to pit road for fuel just a few laps later. Hornaday pitted on lap 26 for four tires and fuel. The team opted to make no adjustments and got Hornaday back out on track in the lead position for the restart on lap 32.
Hornaday and Bodine quickly found each other and once again led the field. The top 10 trucks quickly got into a single-file line and drafted that way until lap 40, when Hornaday’s KHI teammate Ken Schrader led a charge in the outside lane toward the front. However, Kyle Busch jumped in line in front of Schrader stopping the momentum of the outside lane and stalling their progress. By the half-way point at lap 47, Hornaday continued to lead the field. A few laps later Schrader managed to get past Busch to make a run to the front. Schrader took the lead on lap 53. Hornaday and Schrader raced side-by-side before the bottom lane which Hornaday led prevailed. As green flag pit stops began, Hornaday signaled to his drafting partner Bodine that he was coming to pit road. Hornaday got on to the brakes hard, and Bodine was caught off guard with how urgently Hornaday stopped and got into the right-rear quarter panel of Hornaday as he came to pit road. The No. 33 team did not have time to fix the damage under green, opting to change four tires and add fuel during this round of scheduled stops. As Hornaday left pit road, the caution waved on lap 60 for trucks spinning trying to get on pit road. The No. 33 was scored in the 13th position. After surveying the damage, the No. 33 team knew they had to come to pit road for repairs. On lap 62, Hornaday hit pit road for damage repairs and to top off with fuel.
With the damage fixed, Hornaday restarted the race from the 12th position. Realizing his drafting partner Bodine had sustained heavy left-front fender damage in their exchange, Hornaday looked to teammate Schrader to get back to the front. As the laps wound down, Hornaday found himself stuck in the bottom lane, but he was able to gain a few positions riding in seventh. The caution waved again on lap 73 with Hornaday scored in the seventh position. The caution period allowed Hornaday to continue to save gas, ensuring that the No. 33 had enough fuel to make it to the end of the race. Several lead trucks came to pit road for a final splash of fuel, allowing Hornaday to restart the race from the second position. Hornaday retook the lead for a straight-a-way, but with no drafting help, Hornaday rode in the third position until another caution flew on lap 85. The No. 33 truck was scored in the third position for the restart on lap 88, but the 84 truck of Chris Fontaine missed a shift on the restart in front of Hornaday, moving him back in the pack, and with three laps remaining Hornaday jumped to the outside lane to try and make a final surge for the lead.
However, Talladega’s famous “big one” began when the No. 95 of Grant Enfinger bump drafted Bodine in the wrong spot, sending him into Mike Skinner. Skinner was unable to hold on and hit the side of the No. 33 truck. Hornaday went careening past the start/finish line, spinning around and flipping on his roof as he slid down the front straight-a-way. The No. 33 truck then caught the apron, barrel rolling into turn four. Following the accident, Hornaday emerged from the No. 33 truck unharmed. However, the day was done for the No. 33 team, who finished the race in the 21st position.
Busch went on to win the race, followed by Aric Almirola, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Ricky Carmichael. The Truck Series returns to action on Friday November 5th at Texas Motor Speedway, coverage begins live on SPEED Channel at 8:30 p.m., EST.
STATS RECAP
Race Info
October 30, 2010
Talladega Superspeedway
Race: 22 of 25
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Started: 1st
Finished: 21st
Truck Series Point Standings: 6th, 493 points behind leader Todd Bodine
Next on the Schedule for the No. 33:
Date: November 5, 2010
Track: Texas Motor Speedway
Event Name: WinStar World Casino 350K
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Broadcast Time: SPEED 8:30 p.m., EST MRN 8:45 p.m., EST