2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. in the No. 33 Chevrolet at Daytona testing.  (Ronda Greer Photo)

Immediately following Ron Hornaday's dramatic come-from-behind campaign to capture the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship (his record-tying third in the series) when the checkered flag fell at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Chevrolet teams went to work preparing for the 2008 season.

"It is amazing how little time we have between Homestead and Daytona," said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing's Chevrolet program manager, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  "We barely had time to celebrate Ron's drivers championship and Kevin Harvick, Inc.'s (KHI) first owner's title before we turned our focus 100% to preparing for Daytona in February and the start of the 2008 season.

"With the limitations we have on at-track testing, every hour in the wind tunnel and every minute on an engine dyno is critical in assisting our teams in being prepared for the season.  Fortunately we have the Daytona test weekend in January to give us a good gauge as to where we are in the draft and what we need to accomplish before qualifying and the race.

"At the same time, we are working on our packages for the races that come after Daytona, the one and a half mile and short tracks because that is what makes up the bulk of our season."

Hornaday unloaded at Daytona with a new-old teammate.  Jack Sprague will campaign the second KHI entry beginning in 2008.  Sprague is the only other three-time NCTS champion. Between the two veteran drivers, they have amassed a total of 61 wins and 47 poles on their way to a combined six series' championships.

"We are thrilled to have Jack back in the Chevy Silverado fold," Pierantoni continued.  "Having two former champions with the talented personnel and great resources at KHI will be exciting for everyone

Matt Crafton and his No. 88 ThorSport Chevrolet team suppliment their on-track testing program with wind tunnel and engine dyno data during the brief off-season. (Ronda Greer Photo)

at GM Racing and Chevrolet.  There are no two harder racers in the NCTS garage than Ron and Jack. 

"Kevin and DeLana (Harvick) have put together a powerhouse duo for the NCTS starting next season. There is no doubt that Ron and Jack will be charging to the front and competing for wins from the drop of the green flag at Daytona in February."

ThorSport Racing will hit the track in '08 with hard-charging #88 Matt Crafton and Shelby Howard in the #13 Chevrolet.

"Matt was in contention to win several races last year," Pierantoni concluded.  "We know that once he breaks through to get that first win, he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.