Ron Hornaday No 9 Chevrolet Pocono preview

Fast and Fun Facts…

  • This weekend’s Pocono Mountains 125 will produce a first-time Pocono Raceway winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS). Elliott Sadler, the 2010 winner and Kevin Harvick who won in 2011 are not entered in this event.
  • In two series starts at Pocono Raceway, a Chevrolet has been the only manufacturer to visit victory lane
  • Lap 25 of the 50-lap Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway will mark the half-way point of the 2012 NCWTS season

Tricky Triangle Stats… The “tricky-triangle” has statistically not been one of Hornaday’s stronger tracks. In fact, Pocono Raceway is one of eight tracks on the 2012 schedule that the four-time champion has never won at. In only two starts at the 2.5-mile tri-oval, Hornaday has one top-10 finish, (ninth, 2011). The series veteran has an average start of 7.5 an average finish of 19.0 and has completed 95.4 percent of laps attempted (103 of 108).

 

In The Loop… According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Hornaday has the following stats at Pocono:

·         A driver rating of 90.0, ranking him eighth overall

·         Ranked seventh in average running position (8.770)

·         Ranked second in laps in the top-15 with 102  

 

This Week’s No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado… Hornaday will pilot chassis No. 07 for the first time in this weekend’s Pocono Mountains 125 at Pocono Raceway. This particular Joe Denette Motorsports chassis was utilized by Max Gresham at Kansas Speedway (April), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May) and Kentucky Speedway (June).

 

Rearview Mirror-Chicago… Hornaday, who made his 310th series start at Chicagoland Speedway, battled a loose-handling Chevrolet Silverado throughout most of the event to claim the checkered flag in the seventh position, spinning across the front stretch sideways. This was Hornaday’s fifth top-10 finish of the season and his third consecutive top-10 finish.

 

Get to the Point… Hornaday remains seventh in the 2012 NCWTS driver point standings heading into this weekend’s Pocono Mountains 125. The four-time champion is a mere 12 points behind fifth-place Parker Klingerman and 61 points behind leader, Timothy Peters. 

 

We’re Guessing He Signs His Name Fast Too… Hornaday will join other NCWTS drivers for an autograph session on Friday, August 3 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET in the Fair Fare area at Pocono Raceway.  

 

A Penny For Your Thoughts…

 

From the driver, Ron Hornaday… “Pocono is one of the most unique race tracks we run on; there are three different turns and three different straightaways. This weekend, every truck on the entry list will be on a level playing field due to the repave, which should be interesting. It’s my understanding that the track is smooth with good grip, not slick like most tracks are after they are repaved. I believe the trucks will be pretty fast and it will make for some good racing once rubber is laid down and the grooves get wider.”

 

JDM