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[/media-credit]Race: N.C. Education Lottery 200
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Starting Position:15th
Finishing Position:5th
Owner Points Position: 6th (up 1 position)
Race Recap:
Ron Hornaday, making his eighth start at Charlotte Motor Speedway, conserved fuel to finish fifth in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on Friday night. This was Hornaday’s sixth top-five finish in eight starts at the 1.5-mile quad-oval and Joe Denette Motorsports’ first top-five finish of the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
Starting 15th, Hornaday raced inside the top-20 in the opening laps. When the third caution flag was displayed for an accident in turn two, Hornaday brought his Great Play Chevrolet down pit road for fuel only. A number of drivers took four tires and fuel which allowed the No. 9 machine to gain six positions on track. When racing resumed at lap 30, Hornaday was scored ninth.
Hornaday raced competitively inside the top-10 for the next 40 laps until bringing his Great Play Chevrolet down pit road at lap 70 for a scheduled pit stop under green for four tires and fuel.
Unfortunately, the No. 14 machine brought out the fourth caution of the evening on lap 72, and Hornaday was scored one lap down to the race leaders. However, Hornaday along with 10 other drivers who pit prior to this caution would take the wave-around, putting them back on the lead lap in the rear of the field when racing resumed at lap 75.
Restarting 22nd, Hornaday was up to 16th by lap 80, sixth by lap 90 and scored second when the field took the sixth yellow flag of the evening at lap 95. Crew chief, Jeff Hensley made the call to stay out and take a gamble on fuel from this point.
Hornaday maintained his position inside the top-five, while also conserving fuel for the remaining 35 laps to finish fifth behind first-time NCWTS winner, Justin Lofton.
Ron Hornaday Quotes:
“Jeff (Hensley) and the guys did a great job today. We didn’t have the best truck when we got here, but they worked hard to get this Great Play Chevrolet in contention for a top-five finish. It’s pretty cool for Joe Denette and everyone at Joe Denette Motorsports to get their first top-five finish of the season here tonight. We have been working hard the last five races and have been getting better each week. Thank you to Great Play for stepping-up to support us here tonight, we couldn’t do this without support from great partners.”
“I guess Brad (Keselowski) is mad at me because I ran into the back of him on the restart, but they stopped and played jack rabbit and someone got into the back of me so I just had to go too. I’m sorry about that, but we are all looking for spots.”
Notes:
· Hornaday is up one position to sixth in the 2012 NCWTS driver point standings, one point outside the top-five
· This was Hornaday’s sixth top-five finish in eight starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway
· The four-time series Champion led once for one lap in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 (lap 67)
· Hornaday’s fifth-place finish marked Joe Denette Motorsport’s second top-five finish
· In five starts in 2012, Hornaday has improved his finishing position in each race
· The series veteran has completed 100 percent of laps attempted in 2012 (860 of 860)· After four races in 2012, Hornaday has an average start of 14.0 and an average finish of 10.6
About Great Play:
Great Play’s philosophy is that while not every child may have the desire or genetic capability to be a professional athlete, every child does have the capacity to be physically successful. With all the benefits that come from an active lifestyle, all children should be aided and encouraged to reach their full potential. At Great Play, children ages six months to fifth grade develop motor skills, sports skills, fitness and coordination through instruction and fun, structured play, in an exciting Interactive Arena.
For more information on Great Play visit: www.GreatPlay.com/Fredericksburg
Up Next:
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will take one week off before heading to Dover International Speedway for the Lucas Oil 200 on Saturday, June 1. Hornaday will make his eighth start at the 1- mile oval. The four-time series champion has led 275 laps en route to one win, three top-five and five top-10 finishes. Don’t miss all the action from the “Monster Mile,” live on SPEED at 4:30 p.m. ET.
