Chat Transcript: Ron Hornaday

September 6, 2001
12:34 PM EDT (1634 GMT)

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

[Ron_Hornaday] I am proud to be back on NASCAR.com and I am ready to talk to all you folks out there!

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni14] Hi Ron. You got an awesome starting spot at the Bristol Night race a couple weeks ago. Now we come to another short track night race. Can you guys be strong at Richmond like you were at Bristol? Thanks and good luck at Richmond.

[Ron_Hornaday] Yes, we can. We are better prepared to go to Richmond and we wont knock the radiator out of the car this weekend!

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Noelle Dalejrfan] What would you say was your ultimate goal starting the 2001 Winston Cup season? Up to this point, would you say you have achieved your goal? Thanks!

[Ron_Hornaday] No, I have not achieved my goal. I am hoping for top-10 or top-15 finishes when we go to these tracks. We also want to learn from these tracks and prepare for 2002. We wanted to run in the top-10 and top-fives this season, and maybe win some races. The competition is strong amongst the rookies.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [HarvickRacing29] Hey, Ron, my question for you is, do you think that NASCAR should go back to more of its roots and drive shorter tracks like North Wilkesboro or places like that?

[Ron_Hornaday] NASCAR has enough divisions to at least run the Busch and Trucks at some of the shorter tracks. They put on a great show for the fans. Driving at North Wilkesboro in a Cup depends on how many laps! When you have to consider the amount of fans you have to get at a racetrack these days, I think we are at the right tracks.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Noelle Dalejrfan] Do you think NASCAR should have thrown the red flag during the race on Sunday? Do you think if they are going to do it to at least make it consistent through the season? Thanks!

[Ron_Hornaday] A lot of people don't know what happened there, but it was my fault for the red flag. They had to clean it all up there to have a good ending for the show. It is not that they wanted to do it, they had to do it.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [JoeCin SOCAL] Any plans by A.J. to add a second car next year to help with the R&D? Do you ever plan to run out at Perris or Irwindale again?

[Ron_Hornaday] I plan to run everywhere as much as I can! I don't know if A.J. is planning on a second team or not. I really just don't know right now.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [sprintracer26] Ron, I heard that you like dirt late model racing. Would you like to see NASCAR run a dirt track, like ARCA does at IL?

[Ron_Hornaday] I would like to see NASCAR run every kind of racetrack. They run short tracks, banked tracks, superspeedways and road courses. We are supposed to be the best of the best, so lets show everybody we are and run on some dirt tracks as well.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [MollyB] Ron, if your Dad had not introduced you to racing, what do you see yourself doing now?

[Ron_Hornaday] Going nuts! Really, I have always been mechanically inclined, so I probably would have been a mechanic building racecars.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Wolfman77] Hey Ron, how excited were you at Bristol with that great qualifying run?

[Ron_Hornaday] We were excited, but it wasn't to not be expected. The cars are running better and we are learning more about what we need to do. I am more disappointed about running into Tony and dropping the radiator out of the car.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [MollyB] Ron, if you could change your paint scheme, what would it look like?

[Ron_Hornaday] Something where the kids can really recognize the car and get some colorful stuff in there so we can be seen better on the racetrack.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [crystal] Ron, to what extent do you contribute your success in Cup to your early relationship with Dale Earnhardt?

[Ron_Hornaday] Mainly everything. Dale Earnhardt Inc has definitely given me the stuff to learn about this sport. They gave me a great start and a great opportunity for what I am doing right now.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DJ-Jan5] What do you think about all the bumping going on lately?

[Ron_Hornaday] Never noticed it! It is just good, hard racing. I don't believe in the stuff that is going after the races, but what is going on during the races is just good hard racing. That is just a compliment to NASCAR for making the cars really equal and you need to bump around to pass everyone.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [MollyB] Ron, how difficult was the move from California to North Carolina? I'm sure you miss it.

[Ron_Hornaday] It was a difficult move, but I am enjoying it. My kids are growing up now and I am chasing my dreams.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Dale's Gurl8] Besides driving, what is your greatest contribution to the No. 14 team?

[Ron_Hornaday] It is helping my son to get his program going and trying to get his career on the way.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [frano] What do you think about having a cooling down period for drivers before they talk to reporters?

[Ron_Hornaday] I feel that they must say what is on their minds and if they say what they want during the heat of the moment, they are big boys. If they have to apologize later for what they said, then that is just part of it.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [MollyB] After the grueling Cup schedule, are you ready for a break, or do you just want to keep racing?

[Ron_Hornaday] I am just now starting to enjoy driving again. We are getting better and better each week that we go out. At this point I do not want to see the season end!

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [joni14] Hi, Ron. Are you going to have any special paint schemes for the rest of the year? Thanks and good luck at Richmond.

[Ron_Hornaday] I wish we were, but I can't answer that. That is between Conseco and A.J., so I have no idea.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [whatz_uppp] I was just wondering how did you save your car at Darlington in the first spin?

[Ron_Hornaday] A lot of luck! That is one of those deals. Michael was hitting the fence and he didn't know more cars were coming, and the No. 01 got in back of me and I was fortunate where the wall ended and I had enough room to save the car.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [raceykasey] Which track is the toughest mentally, and which track is toughest physically?

[Ron_Hornaday] I think Bristol is a little of both, but the Darlington 500 is mainly more physical. There is a lot of driving there. Many of the tracks are more mental than physical right now.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [jim kollar] What is the hardest aspect of a Winston Cup race?

[Ron_Hornaday] Qualifying! Getting a good spot for the pit stops so the crew can do their jobs, and just pacing yourself for the full race because it is such a long race.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [69RDRUNNER] Ron, what are your thoughts about getting rid of the road courses?

[Ron_Hornaday] I feel that they put on a good show this year. Driving is driving, racing is racing and the checkered flag is the checkered flag. Everyone has the same racetrack to race every week. I enjoy road courses, so I don't know why anyone wouldn't enjoy them.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [bucky44] What do you expect for the next year to bring for your racing?

[Ron_Hornaday] I hope a lot better luck! We have been running well and we had a decent car this past weekend, but we got spun out. We need to get lady luck on our side. We have been running well, but not having the finishes to show for it.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [What] Ron, what do you prefer better, the cars or the trucks?

[Ron_Hornaday] I feel that they are all the same to me. It is a steering wheel and gas pedal. I like racing, no matter whether it is Winston Cup, Busch or Trucks. It doesn't matter to me.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [wanna] What do you think of The Glen being taken out of the Busch Series races?

[Ron_Hornaday] I have heard that. I have never seen anything in writing yet and that would be a shame. If they are only going to run one a year, it is a waste of a car sitting there.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [DEI_1] What was going on in your mind when Steve Park wrecked on Saturday?

[Ron_Hornaday] Steve Park is a very close friend of mine and I knew he got hit rather hard and I had no idea what to think when they put that tarp up. I didn't know if I could go over there and help him or not, but the safety workers were doing everything they can. It was a heartbreaker for me to see what happened.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RUDDFAN28] Ron, if you weren't racing, who would be your favorite driver?

[Ron_Hornaday] I really never ever looked at it that way. I have never really rooted for one person or team. I just like to see a good show and I don't really care who wins.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [chevy24boy] Hey Ron, good luck in this weekend's race. Would you ever consider returning to the Truck Series to race in a couple races a year, such as Daytona or Richmond?

[Ron_Hornaday] Well, I would love to. My kid has a truck and every time I ask to use it, he won't let me borrow it! I am going to have to find my own and hopefully A.J. will let me run it at Phoenix later in the year.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [bruno] Ron, do you think they will stop Cup drivers from driving in the BGN?

[Ron_Hornaday] I don't know why they should. It is a race and they have to qualify for it. I think it shows that the Busch guys are getting their equipment a lot better because the Winston Cup drivers are not winning as much as they have in the past.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [RonURcool] Ron, will you continue doing appearances at your merchandise trailer next year. You have a great personality and I can't wait to meet you again.

[Ron_Hornaday] I appreciate that! We do it at every weekend that we can do it. We like meeting the fans up close and we enjoy doing it.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Spotter] When you get your first win, who do you want to be beating to the checkered flag?

[Ron_Hornaday] All 42 of the other cars! It doesn't really matter. I just wish Dale was still here, as he was definitely the man to beat. If he were still here, he would be the one I would want to beat for the win.

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: [Max20] In reference to today's poll on the site, which is your favorite Looney Tunes character?

[Ron_Hornaday] Taz, of course! My wife paints a lot of those cartoony things!

[Nascar_Host1] Question from: That's all the time Ron has for us this evening. Thanks, Ron! What are you final thoughts?

[Ron_Hornaday] We are excited to run the Busch and Winston Cup races this weekend under the lights. I am sorry to cut this a bit short but I am on the way to the plane and they will not wait for me! Thanks for joining us and I am always pleased to see how many people write in and are concerned with what we do.