Hornaday returns to the track in a truck
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
January 18, 2002
5:46 PM EST (2246 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday made his first laps in a truck in more than two years Friday at Daytona International Speedway on the opening day of a three-day session preparing for the Feb. 15 Florida Dodge Dealers 250.
 | |
Ron Hornaday discusses his testing with crew chief Doug Richert.
|
|
|
In a move that Hornaday, who won his championships driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., probably could never have imaged, he drove a No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado from the Rick Hendrick Motorsports stable.
While series sophomore Matt Crafton posted the day’s best lap and fastest of the winter -- mainly because the trucks are unrestricted -- Hornaday was second-quickest.
Crafton’s lap of the 2.5-mile speedway in the No. 88 Chevrolet was 48.847 seconds; an average speed of 184.249 mph. Hornaday was clocked at 48.934 / 183.921.
Chevy driver Travis Kvapil also got under 49 seconds at 48.956 / 183.839. The fastest Dodge was Carlos Contreras’ in fifth at 183.352 mph and the fastest Ford was Jon Wood’s in eighth, 182.864.
Hornaday said he and Hendrick came up with the idea to give something back to the Truck Series and they’re using a museum piece to do it.
“We thought it would be good for the fans, with what Jack (Sprague) and I have done in the past in this truck series,” Hornaday said. “This was actually one of Ricky’s (Hendrick’s) trucks and Rick took it right out of their museum and we put 24 on it. That’s just so ironic -- me jumping in Jack’s truck with the No. 24 -- but it goes to show we are friends off the race track.”
Sprague and Hornaday’s battles were legendary through the first five years of the series. They both ran every truck race and alternately swapped championships from Hornaday’s first in 1996 through Sprague’s second in 1999. In 2002, Sprague and the younger Hendrick will compete in the NASCAR Busch Series.
 | |
Robert Pressley will be driving the No. 18 in 2002.
|
|
|
“With what Rick Hendrick’s done -- his whole team, while trying to get all those Busch cars done -- to still have enough time to give us a supporting hand and all the parts to put this thing together is unbelievable,” Hornaday said. “I don’t know how anybody could beat this organization. To give somebody like me a truck and say ‘go down there and run it,’ it’s a good feeling -- it’s unbelievable support they’re giving me.
“It’s more fun than I even remember it being -- This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
With a half-hour to go, Hornaday turned the fastest lap to that point among the 36 drivers that tested, using the truck Ricky Hendrick used to finish third in the Daytona opener last season. It had been reclining in Hendrick’s museum at his shop complex in Harrisburg, N.C.
Veteran crew chief Doug Richert is easing the transition for Hornaday, the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year. Hornaday found himself needing a ride after being released by team owner A.J. Foyt following an uneven 2001 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year campaign.
 | |
Larry Gunselman's St. Louis-based No. 63 sports the logo of the hometown NFL team.
|
|
|
The pair worked at DEI in 1995, the inaugural truck season, and scored six wins together that season.
“To get back with Doug is pretty awesome, after we started DEI’s truck program and had the success we’ve had,” Hornaday said. “We’re having a lot of fun already. The guy has always got a giggle on his face and you never know what he’s thinking.”
Richert set out looking for gainful employment near the end of last season. Team owner Joe Gibbs was forced to downsize his two-car Busch Series operation last season after Richert and driver Jeff Purvis were seventh in the point standings after 16 races.
Hornaday said his discussions with Hendrick, who last year ran truck teams for former Hornaday nemesis and three-time NCTS champion Sprague and his son, have not gone beyond Daytona. The team owner has the equipment to run the No. 24 truck for the season, Hornaday said.
“The last time I talked to Rick I said I might have a tire sponsor,” Hornaday said. “He said to do whatever we had to do to get down here. He gave me the truck, the motors, the hauler and all the support he can from Hendrick Motorsports, so right now we’re coming here to see what we can do.
“He’s got the trucks left and a lot of motors left so I’m sure if someone is out there with some money I could talk Rick into it, but right now we haven’t even spoke about. Right now I just want to come here and do the best job we can for the whole Hendrick organization."
| 
