After a disappointing start to the 2010 season four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Longhorn Moist Snuff Chevrolet Silverado team came to Atlanta Motor Speedway looking to rally back.
A pole-winning run in qualifying gave confidence to the team heading into Saturday's E-Z-GO 200. Hornaday led the field to the green flag, however on lap one, Kyle Busch and Matt Crafton pushed their trucks to the edge leaving Hornaday three wide in the middle groove. Hornaday tried to hold his line, but cold tires loosened up his truck. He and Busch touched slightly bending in his left-rear fender resulting in a tire rub. The team debated on making an unscheduled pit stop but after a few laps the tire smoke dissipated.
On lap 11 Hornaday assumed the lead from Busch but for only one lap as his truck began to get increasingly loose. Running in the third position, Hornaday continued to make laps as he patiently waited for a pit stop while Kevin Harvick and Busch battled for the lead. On lap 23, Hornaday's left-rear tire exploded sending him hard into the wall between turns three and four. The No. 33 Longhorn Chevrolet sustained major rear-end damage. The team worked feverishly but the damage was too great to repair and allow the No. 33 to return to the track. Hornaday was credited with a 34th place finish.
Harvick, Hornaday's KHI teammate, went on to win the E-Z-GO 200 for his seventh career Truck Series victory. Busch finished second followed by Aric Almirola, Steve Wallace and Todd Bodine.
The Truck Series returns to action March 27th at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the Kroger 250.
