Like grapes, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winners come in bunches at
Texas Motor Speedway.
The track, which hosts Friday night's 400K race, boasted eight consecutive
different winners from its debut on the schedule in 1997 through the fall race
of 2002.
When Brendan Gaughan first stepped into Victory Lane in June 2003, that changed.
Gaughan went on to record four consecutive wins through the fall of 2004.
In the 10 races since Gaughan's last victory, two drivers — current NASCAR
Camping World Truck points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Longhorn Chevrolet)
and 2006 series champion Todd Bodine (No. 30 Copart.com Toyota) — have accounted
for six wins.
Bodine matched Gaughan's total with victories in each season from 2004-07.
Hornaday, not to be outdone, swept both spring and fall races at Texas Motor
Speedway a year ago — that after the all-time series winner had gone 0-for-10 at
the 1.5-mile facility.
The 40-time series winner looks no further than his pit box to explain why.
"We had been decent there in the past but for some reason, (crew chief) Rick Ren
and the guys hit something the past couple of years," said Hornaday. "I'm not
sure if it's aero or what but the trucks we bring there drive really good.
"It is really hard to do that (sweep) with the competition in the series the way
it is today. I'm really proud of that accomplishment. I hope we can go there
this weekend and do it again."
Ren, who also has Texas wins with Andy Houston and Travis Kvapil, said, "We
worked really hard on getting the trucks comfortable for Ron to drive at places
like Texas and Charlotte. After he was comfortable behind the wheel, then we
worked on making them fast. I think that is what has made the most difference at
the 1.5-mile tracks."
Bodine, winless since the opening race at Daytona, is anxious to get back in
Victory Lane and become the first to win five times at the same track.
"What having four wins at Texas means for this Copart Tundra team is that we
know we can win at Texas and know we can get around there," said Bodine. "Racing
at the mile-and-a-half is about going fast and being patient."
