Strong Run for Ron Hornaday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Ends with Sixth-Place Finish

Looking to have luck on his side, Ron Hornaday and the No. 9 NTS Motorsports team entered the race weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking for their first win of the 2013 season.

 

Qualifying in the eighth position, Hornaday quickly moved into the top five and by lap eight moved into the second position. Under the first caution of the race on lap 13, crew chief Bruce Cook called Hornaday to pit road for a fuel only stop. As teams began to utilize various pit strategies, Hornaday slipped to sixth on the restart.

 

With hard racing among the top competitors, Hornaday remained in the sixth position when the second caution flag waved on lap 28. Opting to stay out under the caution, the race restarted on lap 32 with the No. 9 Silverado in sixth.

 

Moving in to the top five, Hornaday made his second stop of the race under the lap 46 caution taking on four fresh tires and fuel. The race restarted with Hornaday in the ninth position and by lap 57, he was scored sixth. Several laps later, while battling his teammate for position, Hornaday made contact with the No. 24 Silverado causing both teams to sustain damage. Hornaday pitted for four tires, fuel and to repair damage to the right-front fender of his No.9 Silverado. The race restarted on lap 64 with Hornaday in the 22nd position.

 

Ten laps later, the caution was again displayed on lap 74. Making the decision to stay on track to gain track position, Hornaday restarted the race on lap 78 in fourth place and took over second on lap 79.

 

Settling in to the second position, Hornaday pitted for the final time under the lap 91 caution for four tires and fuel. With varying strategies in place, Hornaday restarted the race on lap 96 in the 13th spot, but the race was quickly slowed for a caution on the restart. The race returned to green-flag conditions on lap 102.

 

Hornaday moved back in to the top five following the restart and returned to the second position on lap 113. Running lap times faster than the leader, Hornaday was able to take over the lead on lap 120.

 

The final caution of the race waved on lap 138 and when the race restarted, it was a three lap shoot out to the checkered flag. Hornaday led the field back to green, but after spinning his tires on the restart, slipped to fifth and fell to sixth when he was passed crossing the finish line.

 

Hornaday led a total of 23 laps and his sixth-place finish marked his eighth top-10 finish of the 2013 season with five races remaining on the schedule.

 

Hornaday Hype:

“Our NTS Motorsports No. 9 team came so close to our first win of 2013 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Bruce Cook called a great race and really put us in position to win. The NTS truck was incredibly fast all day and I proved that by coming through the field multiple times. The sixth-place finish is not what I wanted, but it does help us in the points race. The last caution is not what we needed and I wasn’t able to capitalize on the final restart. I am very proud of NTS Motorsports, and we are now even more hungry for a win at Talladega.”

 

NTS Motorsports PR