Hornaday Runs Strong, Finishes Second in KHI 1-2 Finish at Atlanta

After Saturday’s race, Hornaday is 31 points behind Benson in the NASCAR Truck Series point standings with three races remaining in the 2008 season.

Photo courtesy: RonHornaday.com

HAMPTON, Ga. - Ron Hornaday and the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) No. 33 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) Chevrolet Silverado team closed to 31 points behind leader Johnny Benson with a second-place finish on Saturday in the E-Z-GO 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hornaday led a race-high 110 of the 130 laps, gaining 10 bonus points in the race won by KHI teammate Ryan Newman.

“My hat is off to everybody at KHI,” Hornaday said. “This is what it’s all about and that’s what that truck is supposed to be running like. I just missed the corner off of (turn) two on the final lap racing Newman side-by-side for the win, but the VFW Chevrolet was awesome. I have to thank Rick Ren (crew chief) and all the guys on this team, Camping World and VFW. This is for all of our military over there in Iraq. It was a good day for us. We led a lot of laps and gained a little bit on Johnny Benson in the points.”

With qualifying canceled due to rain, the field was set by Owner’s Point standings. Hornaday started on the outside of row one in the second position. After Kyle Busch led the first nine laps, Hornaday took over the lead on lap 10 and led the next 13 laps before settling into the second position behind KHI teammate Newman. On lap 26, Hornaday brought the No. 33 VFW Chevrolet down pit road for four tires and fuel. Hornaday beat the field off pit road and led the field to the restart on lap 30.

On lap 58, the caution came out after Brent Raymer spun in turn four. Ren called Hornaday down pit road for four tires and fuel. Once again, Hornaday beat the field off pit road and retained his lead for the restart on lap 63. He had built a commanding lead, as far as 20 truck lengths over second place, before the caution came out on lap 88 for debris on the race track. Hornaday came down pit road for the third and final time on lap 90 and took four tires and fuel. Another fast stop by the No. 33 VFW crew got Hornaday off pit road with the lead for the restart on lap 95.

With seven laps remaining, Newman made the pass for the top spot and held the lead the next six laps before Hornaday rallied and took over the point with two laps to go. On the last lap, Newman made another run and was able to get around Hornaday on the final turn to earn the win. It was the second sweep of the top two spots for KHI in the 2008 season.

After Saturday’s race, Hornaday is 31 points behind Benson in the NASCAR Truck Series point standings with three races remaining in the 2008 season. The next race is Friday, October 31, at Texas Motor Speedway.

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