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Hornaday makes it three in a row
AP/Ed Reinke
Sparta, KY - Ron Hornaday Jr. took the lead on a restart with 18 laps to go and never looked back to win Saturday's Built Ford Tough 225 Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway. The No.33 Chevrolet driver crossed the finish line 0.135 seconds ahead of Mike Skinner for his third straight victory.
Johnny Benson was the last driver to win three consecutive races in the series. During his 2008 championship season, Benson won at Kentucky, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis and Nashville before his streak was snapped at Bristol.
This is the second time the three-time series champion Hornaday has won three in a row. In 1997, he won at Milwaukee, Louisville and Colorado.
Skinner (1996 and 2007), Greg Biffle (2000) and Todd Bodine (2006) have also recorded three consecutive victories. No driver has ever won four in a row in the 15-year history of the series.
It was the first time a driver won a race from the pole at Kentucky. Hornaday also became a the first two-time winner in the 10-year history of truck racing at Kentucky.
"We finally got the truck right, it took today and yesterday to get it right," Hornaday said.
Hornaday captured his fourth win of the season and the 43rd of his Truck Series career.
Aric Almirola led Tayler Malsam, Hornaday, Bodine, and Colin Braun to the restart with just 18 laps remaining.
Hornaday got a great jump and was able to use the inside lane to pass both Malsam and Almirola for the top spot. But two late cautions flags set up an exciting finish.
Hornaday led Bodine, Skinner, Matt Crafton, and Timothy Peters to the restart with five to go.
Skinner quickly got around Bodine, who led a race-high 45 laps, and set his sights on Hornaday. It proved to be too late, though, as Hornaday maintained around a half-second margin over Skinner during the final laps.
"Ron did a great job. I think one more lap I may have been able to give him a challenge," said Skinner.
Crafton, Peters, and Almirola completed the top-five.
A total of eight drivers took turns leading the race, which featured seven cautions for 30 laps.
Hornaday extended his lead in the standings to 96 over Crafton. Skinner sits in third, trailing by 154 points.
The next truck race is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
