They say the other side of the fence is always greener.
Sam Hornish Jr. would probably have to agree.
After experiencing great success in the IndyCar Series with three championships and a win in the 2006 Indianapolis 500, Hornish has finally hit his stride.
This season, he’s jumped the fence and now stands firmly rooted in greener pastures. After three races, he stands alone atop the points, a place he wants to enjoy for as long as possible.
Riding high off his win last Saturday in Las Vegas, Hornish and the rest of the No. 12 Penske Racing Ford head to Bristol, Tenn., the “greenest state in the land of the free” (according to the “Ballad of Davy Crockett”), for Saturday’s Jeff Foxworthy’s Grit Chips 300 (2:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2). His win was the first this season by a NASCAR Nationwide Series regular.
“It feels fantastic to be in the position that we are right now,” said Hornish. “Greg (Erwin), myself and everyone on the team have been working, practicing and planning for every contingency.
“So far it has paid off; we are still getting better too, which makes us confident that we are doing the right things.”
Hornish currently holds a 19-point advantage over a trio of drivers: Justin Allgaier, Elliott Sadler and Brian Scott. In order to hold all three drivers at bay, Hornish will need to build upon the momentum from the first three weeks, where he’s garnered one win, two top fives and three top 10s.
In three Nationwide starts at Bristol, he has finishes of 14th, 13th and 10th. Although they’re not bad finishes, Hornish will probably need to finish better than 10th this weekend if he wants to put more distance between him and his pursuers.
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