LOOKING FOR WIN NUMBER ONE: On the current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule, there are few tracks in which veteran Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday has not visited victory lane and Chicagoland Speedway is one of the few. The Truck Series added the trip to Joliet, Ill. to the schedule last year. Hornaday recorded an 11th-place finish after getting off sequence with pit strategy.
However, if Hornaday has any questions about Chicago, the first person he will go to is Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner, Kevin Harvick. Harvick has back-to-back NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins in 2001 and 2002 at the 1.5-mile track and a Nationwide Series win in 2007 to his credit. Harvick is no stranger to victory lane at Chicagoland Speedway.
THE CLOSER: According to NASCAR's loop data statistics Hornaday was "the closer" in last year's race at Chicagoland Speedway. Hornaday gained three position in the last 15 laps of last year's EnjoyIllinois.com 200, progressing the most of any other Truck Series driver in the field that late in the event.
EXPERIENCE: Although Hornaday only has one Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway under his belt, he has competed several times in the Nationwide and Cup Series on the 1.5-mile oval. Hornaday has four Nationwide Series starts with his highest finishing position of fifth, a career-best effort at Chicagoland. Hornaday also made one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in 2001 while driving for A.J. Foyt. He had an engine expire and finished 40th.
SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP: This weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, Hornaday will be piloting the No. 33 Shopezgo.com Chevrolet. Throughout the 2010 season fans can visit Shopezgo.com for all their E-Z-GO genuine parts and accessories needs and by entering coupon code "KHI25" customers can receive a 10 percent discount off their purchases.
Notes from the Professor: Quotes from Ron Hornaday:
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES A DRIVER FACES AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY?
"In order to be fast at Chicago, you have to be on the white line. The track continues to age too, so it keeps loosing grip and it is important to get your truck really rolling through the center of the corner. Last year we actually had a pretty good set-up for the race, but got caught on a round of pit stops. We learned a lot and now I have a better idea of how to run a truck around Chicago than I did last year. I'm looking forward to going back and trying to make Chicagoland one of my favorite tracks with a win."
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE 2011 TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE THAT WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK?
"I think NASCAR really takes the time and looks at what they are doing with the schedule. I really enjoy all of the tracks that we go to and I hope that with some of the date switches and some of the companion events we can get more fans in the stand for our Truck Series events."
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 33 Shopezgo.com team will take chassis No.048 to Chicagoland Speedway. Chassis No. 048 last hit the track at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway two weeks ago, where Hornaday earned his first career top-five finish at the track "Too Tough to Tame." Prior to the trip to Darlington, chassis No. 048 also competed at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway where Hornaday piloted it to a sixth-place finish. KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick also drove chassis No. 048 earlier this year at Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway, earning his third Truck Series victory of 2010. Chassis No. 048 has an average finishing position of 3.33.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Last weekend at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Hornaday overcame a spin on lap 52 and fought his way back up through the field at the 0.533-mile bull ring to record a third-place finish, his third consecutive top-10 finish.
