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[/media-credit]Joe Denette Motorsports News & Notes
Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race No. 5 of 22
Ron Hornaday
No. 9 Joe Denette Motorsports Chevrolet
Fast & Fun Facts…
Ron Hornaday is one of five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) winners at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) Hornaday is one of only two active drivers that have been to victory lane at the 1.5-mile quad-oval. Chevrolet has won six of the nine NCWTS events at CMS Hornaday will no longer have to qualify his No. 9 Chevrolet into the 36-truck field on time. Starting at Charlotte, the 2012 NCWTS points will take effect and Hornaday, now seventh in points, is locked in.
Home Sweet Home… In seven NCWTS starts at CMS, Hornaday has two wins and five top-five finishes. The four-time series Champion has led 169 laps with an average start of 6.6, average finish of 7.0 and has completed 99.9 percent of laps attempted (945 of 946).
This Week’s No. 9 Chevrolet… Hornaday will pilot chassis No. 06 in this weekend’s N.C. Education Lottery 200. This is the same Joe Denette Motorsports chassis that Hornaday piloted to the team’s first top-10 finish, sixth, at Kansas Speedway last month.
This chassis was a workhorse for Jason White in 2011. Most notably, White piloted this chassis to a season-best finish of fifth at Kentucky Speedway and a 16th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in August after leading the field for 43 laps. Elliott Sadler also drove this chassis to a seventh-place finish in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In The Loop… According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Hornaday has the following stats at CMS:
Hornaday has a driver rating of 115.1; first overall First among average running position (6.088) First among fastest laps run with 100 First among laps in the top-15 with 855 First among laps led with 169
Testing 1, 2, 3, Testing… Hornaday participated in a two-day Chevrolet test at Nashville Superspeedway with his No. 9 Joe Denette Motorsports team on April 30 and May 1, 2012.
Rearview Mirror-Kansas… Hornaday, who made his eighth start at Kansas Speedway in last month’s SFP 250, rebounded from a lap 42 spin to finish sixth. This was the sophomore team’s first top-10 finish of the season.
Get to the Point… Hornaday has been working on an upward charge in the point’s battle since Daytona. The series veteran is up to seventh in the 2012 NCWTS driver point standings, 11 points outside the top-five. Joe Denette, owner of the No. 9 Chevrolet, is up four positions to seventh in the 2012 NCWTS owner point standings.
A Penny For Your Thoughts…
From the driver, Ron Hornaday… “We have done some testing, found a few things and the boys have been working hard making updates on our intermediate trucks, getting the drag out and getting good down force. We weren’t far off, but I feel like these changes will put us back in the hunt. Each week we have progressed, it’s just a matter of time before Joe gets that elusive first victory and I hope to get it for him in Charlotte. Night racing brings an exciting element to the mix and night racing at Charlotte is like no other.”
From the crew chief, Jeff Hensley… “Charlotte Motor Speedway is just one of those race tracks that you always want to win on, it’s close to home and you always want to look good and put on a good show for the fans in your own back yard. Charlotte is a one-day show for us so the track tends to go through many changes from the morning practice sessions to the race that night. The track is hot and slick during the day and it cools down and has a lot of grip for the race at night. I believe experience will be critical here for that reason.”
Hornaday’s NCWTS Stats:
Starts: 304
Top-5: 146
Top-10: 209
Poles: 27
Wins: 51
Laps Led: 9,529
Average Start:8.3
Average Finish: 9.3
Laps: 49,140
Tune In… Final practice for the N.C. Education Lottery 200 will be televised live on SPEED, Friday May 18 at 10:20 a.m. ET, Qualifying will air live on SPEED at 4:00 p.m. ET and the fifth event of the 2012 NCWTS season is slated to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. ET on SPEED. For even more coverage you can tune into SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
Follow Me… Follow Ron on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/RonHornaday (@RonHornaday) or log-on to www.JoeDenetteMotorsports.com for all the latest news and updates on the No. 9 Chevrolet.
Max Gresham
No. 24 BugBand Chevrolet
Fast & Fun Facts:
Max Gresham will make his debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in this weekend’s N.C. Education Lottery 200
This Week’s No. 24 BugBand Chevrolet… The No. 24 Joe Denette Motorsports team will unload chassis No. 07 for this weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event at CMS. This is the same chassis that Gresham piloted to a 22nd-place finish at Kansas Speedway last month.
Jason White also drove this chassis in 2011 at Pocono Raceway (August), Chicagoland Speedway (September), Kentucky Speedway (October) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (November).
Welcome Aboard… The No. 24 machine will have a new look this weekend at CMS. BugBand, a line of natural insect repellent products, will adorn the Chevrolet Silverado in shades of yellow, red and purple for this weekend’s N.C. Education Lottery 200. The BugBand association with Gresham will mark the first time any company has become a sponsorship partner with his Made In USA Brand (MIUSA) on-track awareness program. The MIUSA effort is a campaign to draw attention to American-made products, services and companies – and to encourage consumers to look for the Made In USA Brand Certification Mark when they are making purchases.
Off-Weekend News… While the NCWTS has taken three weeks off since last month’s SFP 250 at Kansas Speedway, Gresham has had a full schedule. The Griffin, Georgia native participated in a Chevrolet test at Nashville Superspeedway on Monday, April 30 while also celebrating his 19th birthday. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender also traveled to Las Vegas for the 67th-Annual National Hardware Show where his primary sponsor, Made In USA Brand, took center stage in a first of its kind area strictly dedicated to American made products and services. Gresham was on hand at the show with BugBand president, Dan Ritter, for the unveiling of this weekend’s No. 24 BugBand Chevrolet which was on display for the duration of the show, May 1-3. The 19-year-old driver capped off his time away from the track in West Palm Beach, FL where the avid outdoorsmen spent time fishing with friends and family.
Rookie Race… Gresham is currently fifth in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle just two points behind fourth place, Ross Chastain. Leading the charge after Kansas is Ty Dillon.
Gresham’s NCWTS Stats:
Starts: 3 (2011)
4 (2012)
Laps: 1046
Average Start: 25.0
Average Finish: 23.7
Rearview Mirror-Kansas… Gresham, who made his debut at Kansas Speedway in the NCWTS, was off to a solid start in last month’s SFP 250, until contact with another competitor on lap 57 handicapped the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to a 22nd-place finish in the fourth event on the 2012 schedule.
Get to the Points… Gresham is down one position to 18th in the 2012 NCWTS driver point standings, a mere six points outside the top-15. The No. 24 is 21st in the 2012 NCWTS owner point standings, one point outside the top-20 and 17 points outside the top-15.
Meet Max… There are two opportunities to meet Max on Thursday, May 17
Gresham will join other NCWTS drivers for an autograph session from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET at the Camping World location in Statesville, NC. (1220 Moreland Dr.) Gresham will also be at the Wal-Mart in Concord, NC from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET with his No. 24 BugBand Chevrolet, joining other drivers for an autograph session to help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. (150 Concord Commons Place SW)
A Penny For Your Thoughts…
From the driver, Max Gresham… “We have a new sponsor on board with us this weekend, BugBand, and the paint scheme is a lot of fun. BugBand wristbands come in a lot of different colors and they are a simple safe way to protect yourself from insects. As an avid outdoorsman, I’m always using them when I’m hunting and fishing; there is no mess, they are all natural, good for the environment and made in the USA, it’s a natural fit for me.”
From the crew chief, Terry “Richie” Snyder… “I’m bringing the same chassis to Charlotte that we took to Kansas last month. We were able to test at Nashville and learned a lot that we can apply to the truck this weekend. Being in Charlotte, racing under the lights will be cool. This is a place I’ve never won at and it would mean a lot to get Max his first win here, and I believe we have a good shot to do that.”
About BugBand… BugBand, a Cartersville, Ga. Company, features a full line of wristbands, pump spray’s, towelette and diffuser products with the active ingredient Geraniol. Unlike products that use Deet, a synthetic, manufactured chemical, BugBand products are naturally derived, featuring Geraniol, concentrated oil that is extracted from geranium flowers.
According to laboratory and field studies by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Geraniol, has been proven effective in repelling a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes, house flies, stable flies, horn flies, cockroaches, fire ants, fleas, gnats, dog ticks, lone star ticks, and no-see-ums. BugBand sprays and towelettes are effective against ticks, as well.
The result is a natural, safe and extremely effective insect repellent for adults, children and pets. BugBand products can be used comfortably without mess or foul smell while at sporting events, camping, fishing and hunting, gardening, cookouts and just about any other outdoor situation where insects can be bothersome.
Tune In… Final practice for the N.C. Education Lottery 200 will be televised live on SPEED, Friday May 18 at 10:20 a.m. ET, Qualifying will air live on SPEED at 4:00 p.m. ET and the fifth event of the 2012 NCWTS season is slated to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. ET on SPEED. For even more coverage you can tune into SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
Follow Me… Follow Max on Twitter www.Twitter.com/MaxGresham (@MaxGresham) or www.MaxGresham.com for all the latest news and updates on the No. 24 Made In USA Brand Chevrolet.
To join Max in a pledge to buy made in USA manufactured goods log onto: www.PledgeForUSA.com
Race Info:
Event: N.C. Education Lottery 200
TV: SPEED, 7:30 p.m. ET
Distance: 134 laps/201 miles
Track: 1.5-mile quad-oval
