Address:http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/237276

Published: 05.03.2008
Hornaday hoping for another win tonight at TRP

Ron Hornaday Jr., a legendary NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, got
his start at TRP when it was a dirt track. He returns to his roots
tonight, when he races 75 laps in a NASCAR late model car at Tucson
Raceway Park. Racing starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7
for juniors, seniors and military. Kids under 8 are free.

HIS JOB: For the fourth straight year, Hornaday Jr. is driving for Kevin
Harvick Inc. in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The reigning series
champion won last week's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway
after starting at the pole and leading for 136 of 167 laps.
"That was a brand-new truck that just got out of the wind tunnel," he
said. "Everything was perfect. You can't ask for a better day than that.
Everything's won at the shop."

Hornaday Jr. is ranked atop the Craftsman Truck Series standings with
775 points. He has three top-five finishes this year and another in the
top 10.

LOCAL TIES: Hornaday Jr. became the first driver to win back-to-back
NASCAR Southwest Tour season victories in 1992 and 1993 and considers
Tucson a home away from home. In 1994, he returned from Tucson to his
home in Palmdale, Calif., only for his phone to ring. It was legend Dale
Earnhardt, who "gave me a plane ticket and flew me out to North
Carolina." Hornaday Jr. had a new gig.
"Tucson Raceway Park really changed my life," he said.

GREATEST OF ALL TIME?: One could argue that Hornaday Jr. "a month or so
away from his 50th birthday" is the best driver in truck series history.

"I couldn't say that," you'd have to watch the races," he said. "I
definitely enjoy it."
He holds the all-time record for wins with 34 and has won three season
championships. Hornaday began racing full-time in the Busch Series in
2000 and stayed there until 2004 before returning to the truck series.

HE WANTS TO WIN TONIGHT, TOO: Hornaday Jr. figures he won at TRP "when
it was the last dirt race and the first asphalt race" and plans on
winning tonight.
"I believe in chasing your dreams," he said. "This is coming back to
Tucson and thanking the fans and all the racers. They have an
opportunity to try to beat me if they'd like."


Patrick Finley
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