Chat Transcript: Ron Hornaday

April 19, 2001
10:40 AM EDT (1440 GMT)

[Nascar_Host1] Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Ron Hornaday, presented by Conseco.

[Ron_Hornaday] Welcome to my chat. I am glad to be back on NASCAR.com. I have been here before but I have never talked about Winston Cup racing so let's go!

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Ronstheman]What are your thoughts going into Talladega?

[Ron_Hornaday] We are real excited. It is the same car that we ran at Daytona. We are taking the same car back so we are really looking forward to it.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [JoeC] What's it like driving for A. J. Foyt?

[Ron_Hornaday] He is definitely one of the easiest owners. You know where you stand with him and he just wants to win.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [dalejr_fan] Ron, what do you think of all the speculation going on about improving the safety in the cars? Would you encourage people to wear the HANS or a device like it?

[Ron_Hornaday] Coming from the old days, it is tough to say. We are going a lot faster and NASCAR has been trying everything possible for safety now. I am looking into it myself. It is not mandatory, so it has to be something that you want to do.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [JoeC] Ron, do you like the new aero package for the superspeedways?

[Ron_Hornaday] I don't know the difference because I haven't run any other way in a Winston Cup car. I have done it in trucks and I really think that is helping out our Conseco team.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [dalejr_fan] You've driven in the Truck series, Busch series, and now the Cup series. Do you find them equally as challenging? Do you have a favorite out of the three?

[Ron_Hornaday] They are all definitely equally challenging. It is just different names and faces. I love Winston Cup racing and this is where I need to be. When you are in the cars you don't really know the difference. You just race.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [clu] If Foyt does expand, do you think Larry is a good candidate for the ride?

[Ron_Hornaday] Larry is learning more every time he goes out. He got thrown to the wolves with his own team up there. He listens a lot and he is learning, but they have bugs to work out. I do think he is a great candidate.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [dalejr_fan] Ron, describe your rookie season in Winston Cup. How's it going?

[Ron_Hornaday] It is going like a rookie season is supposed to. We have our ups and downs and we think when we get to the tracks the second time, we will be better. We have our eyes open and we are learning every time we go out. That is about all you can ask for.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Teressa] Do you take anything on the road that reminds you of home?

[Ron_Hornaday] My wife! Haha In 22 years of racing, I think she has only missed three, and those were because my son was racing.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Nascarfan20] With all the recent accidents on pit road, is your team looking into any safety features?

[Ron_Hornaday] I really didn't know there were a lot of accidents on pit road. The newer tracks I have heard are more slippery, but you can't think about that when you are going over the wall.

[Nascar_Host1] What do you think about all the controversy over the Talladega track? Should there be restrictor plates or not? Should the track be restructured?

[Ron_Hornaday] That is a hard one to answer. I have never been there in a Winston Cup race. I have had a lot of fun there in a Busch race so I will be able to tell you more after I run there in a Winston Cup car.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [wardfan22] How does it feel to be competing against 20-year-olds for Rookie of the Year?

[Ron_Hornaday] I was 20 once and I still feel the same! I never looked at competing for the rookie deal. I am just competing against 42 other guys.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Nascarfan20] Ron, any special paint schemes coming up?

[Ron_Hornaday] I have heard of one and I have seen the layout but we are waiting for approval. Most likely we will have something coming up here soon.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Tuck] Being a single car team, is there another driver or team that you can lean on for friendly advice?

[Ron_Hornaday] Everybody has been a big help. Pontiac has definitely been the biggest supporter of us and myself. And of course, Old Faithful, A.J. Foyt.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [wardfan22] What's your opinion on Greg Biffle this year?

[Ron_Hornaday] He is doing a great job. He is definitely showing those guys that he has the same horsepower in the motors in Busch than he had in the truck.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Plummer12] At Martinsville you came from 43rd to the lead and had a great finish. How were you able to do that at such a small track?

[Ron_Hornaday] The pit stop strategy was the key and Fred Graves said we should come in early and get 2 tires. The car ran great throughout the race. The finish didn't show it but we definitely had a strong racecar there.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Teressa] How do you prepare for a race? Any special foods or mental preparation?

[Ron_Hornaday] I do all the above! Nah, I don't do anything. I just get a good night sleep and drink a lot of fluids.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Canuck] If you could make any racetrack, what would it be like?

[Ron_Hornaday] I think they should all be like the old Sears Point.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Nascarfan20] Ron, with all the new tires, is it hard to get a good setup for the car?

[Ron_Hornaday] That is one of the things we have been fighting for a couple of years now. They are fighting to get a good, safe tire and the tire is making it harder to work on the chassis setups for the long runs.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [southernboy] Have you done any testing on the 2 new tracks yet? If so, what are you thoughts?

[Ron_Hornaday] We have not done any testing. It is in the works and we will definitely use some of our rookie test to go to the new racetracks.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Neeper2] Ron, with all the new faces coming into racing, do you see anyone from Southwest Tour rising fast?

[Ron_Hornaday] All I can do to answer that is to say "Keep your dreams going." There are a lot of opportunities with what guys like Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle are doing. And watch out for my kid!

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [HornadayFan] How does it feel to have Fred working with you again?

[Ron_Hornaday] You can't imagine how it feels. He is a leader and he has certainly stepped up to the plate. The guys at the shop really like working with him.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Hi33] Ron, with your new team this year, what you think it will take to win the Rookie of the Year crown?

[Ron_Hornaday] To run better than Kevin Harvick! Haha He jumped into a great opportunity with Richard Childress racing. These accidents and flat tires are not helping our status. We just need to keep it all together.

[Nascar_Host1] How do you and your family handle the serious demands on your time with more races than ever and sponsor obligations?

[Ron_Hornaday] It is easy. My kids are growing up now and they are both in some kind of racing. I am chasing my dream now, and my wife and I are just are doing it. When we have free time I like to go to the lake with my wife, but I really enjoy spending my time building cars and trucks with my kids.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [phizerman] Who are you most afraid of to see in your rearview mirror out there on the track?

[Ron_Hornaday] That is hard to answer. I have never looked in my rearview mirror. I feel comfortable with all of them. If you haven't done anything stupid to them, they won't do anything stupid to you-kind of deal.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [PLUS] At which track do you see your best chance of a first win?

[Ron_Hornaday] I feel that every track we go to we can get our first win. We have the team and the car. It is about getting everything together in the same day.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [KcAtwoodFan19] If you could race against any competitor, who would you most love to race against?

[Ron_Hornaday] Definitely my father and AJ Foyt. I would win, of course! Haha

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [quack_fu] Ron, what are your goals for the rest of the season?

[Ron_Hornaday] It is hard to set a goal because Tony Stewart, Dale Jr., and all those guys set goals. If I can stay with them then I will be successful in Winston Cup racing.

[Nascar_Host1] That's all the time Ron has for us today. Thanks Ron! What are your final thoughts?

[Ron_Hornaday] Thanks for your great questions tonight. This Conseco Pontiac is going to look better from now on out. We found some things out so we are going to be looking good. I appreciate all your support of our sport. Have a wonderful rest of the day!