Basking in the glow of his milestone 50th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, Ron Hornaday Jr. was only half-joking about still being in contention for a fifth championship with five races remaining in the 2011 season.
“I never say die,” said Hornaday, following his third victory at Kentucky Speedway on Oct. 2. “If they (Kevin Harvick Inc.) give me trucks like tonight, it’s doable.”
Hornaday, in fifth place and 42 points behind leader Austin Dillon, led the most laps in the Kentucky 225. He edged the onrushing Dillon, who had earlier won his fifth Keystone Light Pole of the season, by 0.438 seconds. “He’s the new up-and-coming star and I can say at the age of 53 I beat him,” said Hornaday. Nearly a third of Hornaday‘s wins, 15, have come since the Palmdale, Calif.-competitor turned 50.
Hornaday’s victory was the fifth of the year for crew chief Bruce Cook. Cook, previously a winner with Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, observed of Hornaday, “It’s insane how he does things sometimes. He’s just that good.”
Cook is the 13th different crew chief to visit Victory Lane with Hornaday. He’s won championships with three: Rick Ren twice and Doug Williams and Fred Graves.
Hornaday’s thoughts on win No. 50? “It’s going to mean a lot when I hang my helmet up and I’m in my rocking chair on the front porch with my grandchildren,” he said.
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