31st Career Win Occurs at the 300th NASCAR Truck Series Race

Ron Hornaday Jr. and Crew Chief Rick Ren pose with the winning trophy from the AAA Insurance 200 at Dover International Speedway. (Ronda Greer Photo)

Ron Hornaday finally claimed the trophy he has coveted for years. His No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet wasn't the fastest truck out of the gate, but after crew chief Rick Ren made some major changes under caution, Hornaday dominated the AAA Insurance 200.

During the first practice session, Hornaday was 11th fastest posting a time of 24.173 seconds (148.926 mph), and was 18th fastest during the final practice with a time of 24.147 seconds (149.087). Issues with the shocks began during practice and carried over to qualifying. Hornaday decided to only make one qualifying lap in the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet, and earned a solid 15th starting position, with a time of 23.653 seconds (152.201 mph).

The AAA Insurance 200 began with a wreck on the backstretch during the first lap of the race, which ended the day of Ron Hornaday's Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), teammate Clint Bowyer. Once the field returned to green, Hornaday began to make his move to the front and was in the ninth position when the second caution flag flew on lap 14.

After the restart Hornaday radioed to his crew, "well, it took me 20 laps to figure out how to drive this thing, but now we are finally going forward."

When the caution flag flew again on lap 39, the Camping World team made their first scheduled pit stop of the day for four tires, fuel, air pressure and wedge adjustments. After the restart crew chief Rick Ren noticed an improvement in Hornaday's speed.

By lap 80, Hornaday was comfortably racing in the top 10, and by lap 101 had jumped up to the third position. On lap 108, Hornaday claimed the lead.

On lap 130 the caution flag flew and Rick Ren told his driver "the truck is really good on the long runs." Ren then told his Camping World crew, "just four tires and fuel guys." Hornaday commented, "Yeah, we are pretty good, you figured it out. Now I can drive it."

Hornaday restarted first on lap 134. Kyle Busch made one last challenge on lap 135 overtaking the lead, but by lap 137 Hornaday had reclaimed the top spot. Hornaday would remain out front for the rest of the race. Hornaday beat Stacy Compton to the start/finish line by 7.009 seconds. His lowest position of the race was 18th, and he ran 196 laps in the top 15 (98 percent). He had 17 green-flag passes and led 91 laps of the race.

So far in 2007, Ron Hornaday has amassed two wins (Charlotte and Dover), three top five and seven top 10 finishes. In eight starts he has completed 1336 of 1336 laps, with 190 laps led.

Hornaday is second in the point standings, just 77 points behind leader Mike Skinner. The win at Dover (Del.) was the 300th race of the series and gives Hornaday two milestone wins in the Truck Series. His first came at the 100th Truck Series race at Evergreen (Wash.) Speedway on April 3, 1999.

Ron Hornaday Quotes:
"We had shock issues during practice and thankfully this Kevin Harvick team rallied around us. One of our Busch teams had one complete set of shocks they could give us. They know where we are in this points race and they wanted to do anything they could to help us. They came through for us and here we are the winner."

"I don't know where to start. I was really, really mad at Rick Ren this morning. We were having trouble with shocks during practice and I was nervous about qualifying, but Rick Ren said 'trust me it will be fine.' The changes that he made during that first pit stop made a huge difference."

"I just didn't think the truck was that good until we started passing guys and putting them a lap down. I'll tell you what, after Mansfield I said I'll take a top 10 there if I can win Dover. I love this place; it's one of my favorite places. It's one of my coolest wins."

Rick Ren Quotes:
"I told Ron, I knew in my heart it was going to be okay. We've won two races together this year at tracks neither one of us have ever won at. It is just so cool. We made some major adjustments on the pit stop - air pressure, wedge and the lap times began to pick up. I knew if we could get a caution by lap 135, we were going to be in great shape. We got the caution and we won the race."

"Ron Hornaday drives harder than any other driver I have ever worked with. This guy, when he buckles the belts, game's on."

Next up for the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado: Ron Hornaday will drive the No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet in the Sam's Town 400 at the Texas Motor Speedway.