Hornaday Puts Chevy On Atlanta Pole
03-07-2008 6:33 pm

2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ron Hornaday, Jr. captured the Keystone Light Pole Award at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday afternoon. Hornaday was the only driver to break the 175 mph barrier with a 31.577 second lap. The No. 33 KHI Racing Chevrolet driver will share the front row with fellow Chevrolet driver Chad McCumbee. McCumbee turned an impressive 31.727 second lap time in his No. 8 MRD Motorsports Chevrolet at 174.741 mph.

"A driver can take all the credit in the world, but it is Rick Ren (crew chief) and all these guys on the Camping World Chevrolet Silverado that have got to take and should have all the credit," said Hornaday. "Man, we unloaded good and it shows it. We were fast in practice and in qualifying.

"It is a long race, track position means a lot. We have the little Busch (Kyle) behind us so I am sure he is going to try and lead the first lap. It is just going to be an exciting race for the fans. We are just going to see what we have to do and make some changes on our Chevy Silverado. I know Rick is going to make the right calls so hopefully we will get this thing in victory lane here in Atlanta." concluded Hornaday.

Former Atlanta winner and Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch put the No. 51 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevrolet in the third starting position for this evening's race. Busch was the fastest Toyota with a 31.728 sec. lap at 174.735 mph. Team ASE driver Ted Musgrave will start fourth in the No. 59 HT Motorsports Toyota. Musgrave averaged 174.307 mph with a 31.806 sec. lap.

Chevrolet grabbed three of the top-five starting positions when veteran driver Jack Sprague posted a 31.820 sec. lap. Sprague's 174.230 mph effort will put his No. 2 KHI Racing Chevrolet fifth for tonight's American Commercial Lines 200, the third race of the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Watch the race tonight live on SPEED starting at 8:30 p.m. EST with the NCTS Set-Up and host Krista Voda.