08-20-2004 | TruckSeries.com Report
One of the hottest rivalries in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCTS) history will be rekindled when Ron Hornaday takes the wheel of the Chevrolet Silverado Celebrity All Stars (All Stars) No. 47 at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) in the November 5th Chevy Silverado 150. Hornaday and Chevy Trucks Silverado driver Jack Sprague are the two winningest drivers in NCTS history and the on-track battles between the two are legendary in the NCTS garage. It is fitting that PIR is the site of this one-time rematch as more than one of the great races between the two champions were witnessed by the fans of the Arizona track, thought by many to be the birthplace of the NCTS. Hornaday, a native of Palmdale, CA, is the final driver of the 2004 All Star program line-up and will sport a paint scheme featuring one of the hottest country music acts, Big & Rich, on the Acxiom Morgan Dollar Motorsports entry. "I am so pumped up about the chance to drive the Chevrolet Silverado All-Star truck at Phoenix International Raceway,” said Hornaday. “To be part of this All-Star program with Chevrolet and Morgan Dollar Motorsports is awesome. Acxiom, Chevrolet Silverado and Morgan Dollar Motorsports teamed to bring the All Star program to fans at seven NCTS events during the 2004 season. At each event, the No. 47 will feature a special paint scheme showcasing a prominent musical artist and driven by a Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Nextel Cup driver. The Hornaday/Big & Rich pairing at PIR is the sixth of seven in the series. First of the seven different drivers, Michael Waltrip drove to a fifth place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway back on May 21st. Waltrip’s No. 47 truck was decaled with the artist Sheryl Crow’s latest album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow. Waltrip led 49 laps of the 134-lap event when contact was made with another truck going into turn one late in the race damaging the Acxiom Silverado and dropping Waltrip from the lead to fifth in the order. “We were racing for the lead and for the win," Waltrip said. "That's how I race to win. It’s been since 1997 since I’ve raced the truck and the competition is tough. The ACXIOM Chevrolet was great tonight and we really had a legitimate shot at the win. I’ve enjoyed racing as part of the Chevy All Stars team with Sheryl Crow on the truck and having Chevrolets in the front.” Following the exciting finish at Lowe’s with Waltrip there are six other experienced drivers paired with music artists including: Robby Gordon/George Thorogood, Bristol (August 25); Tony Stewart/Sara Evans, Richmond (September 9); Ricky Craven/Lee Ann Rimes, New Hampshire (September 18); Bobby Labonte/Josh Turner, Martinsville (October 23); Ron Hornaday/Big & Rich, Phoenix (November 5); and Ward Burton/Joe Nichols, Darlington (November 12). Serving as primary sponsor of the No. 47 All-Stars Silverado is Acxiom, a worldwide data services company, and partner of Morgan Dollar Motorsports since 1998 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“I can't wait to mix it up with my old buddy Jack Sprague, Dennis Setzer and the rest of the drivers,” concluded Hornaday. “Phoenix has always been one of my best tracks, so I think we have a great chance at putting this Big & Rich/ACXIOM Chevrolet Silverado in victory lane. I won the last time I strapped in a truck, so that's the goal again this time. I'm going to give my Monte Carlo a break and drive a Silverado!"