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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet) celebrated his 50th birthday June 20 but reaching that milestone didn’t slow down the three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion in the least.
Hornaday needed two starts to reach Victory Lane and join Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) as drivers with wins in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
There are four members of the winners 50 and over club: Joe Ruttman, Ted Musgrave (No. 59 Team ASE/Harris Trucking Toyota), Hornaday and Skinner.
Hornaday was the dominant driver last week at Memphis Motorsports Park leading 139 of 204 laps around the 3/4-mile oval to win for the third time in the Home of Blues.
In fact, Hornaday is no less dominant now than he ever was — even when he collected three titles for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and 19 wins.
He’s led 11 of 12 races this year and tops the table in both miles (731.068) and laps (561) led.
Hornaday’s third victory of the year matches the series record of most seasons with three or more wins — six — set a year ago by now-Kevin Harvick Inc. teammate Jack Sprague (No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevrolet).
Fact: Age No Barrier For These Drivers
Drivers age 50 and over have won 17 times in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Driver Wins Age Last Win
Joe Ruttman 13 56 years 6 months
Ted Musgrave 1 51 years 10 months
Mike Skinner 2 50 years 3 months
Ron Hornaday Jr. 1 50 years 0 months
Revolving Door For Championship Contenders
The 2008 season is fast approaching its mid-point and the championship picture is just as hazy as on Feb. 15 before the first green flag of the year flew at Daytona International Speedway.
Hornaday, in search of title No. 4, is on top — but just barely. After winning at Kansas Speedway in April, Hornaday carried a 61-point lead into seven consecutive weeks of racing.
That segment is over and Hornaday is up by 27 over the season’s most surprising driver, Matt Crafton (No. 88 Menards Chevrolet).
During those seven races, four different drivers took turns atop the standings.
How tough has it been to hold the top spot? Very.
Leads of 45 and 50 points vanished twice.
Hornaday dropped from first to third after a finish of 23rd at Michigan.
Benson had a 50-point cushion entering last week’s O’Reilly 200. Engine failure left Keystone Light pole winner Benson 33rd in the final rundown, dropping the Grand Rapids, Mich., driver to fourth.
Charting The Seven-Race Leaders
Post-Event Lead Driver
Lowe’s, 5-16 5 R. Hornaday Jr.
Mansfield, 5/24 8 T. Bodine
Dover, 5/30 20 R. Crawford
Texas, 6/6 45 R. Hornaday Jr.
Michigan, 6/14 15 J. Benson
Milwaukee, 6/20 50 J. Benson
Memphis, 6/28 27 R. Hornaday Jr.
Etc.
Moss Motorsports Unveils Plans. … NFL All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss has scheduled at Daytona International Speedway to announce plans to campaign his No. 81 truck in this season’s remaining 13 races.
Germain Patriarch Passes. … Robert L. Germain Sr. died June 27 in Naples, Fla., at the age of 85. He was the founder of the Germain Motor Co. and father of Bob, Rick and Steve Germain, owners of Germain Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team won the 2006 title with Todd Bodine.
Former Series Crew Member Dies. … Both Memphis winner Hornaday and second-place finisher Erik Darnell (No. 99 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford) paid emotional tributes to John Arden, who was killed in a Charlotte-area traffic accident. Arden, an Illinois native, shared a house with Darnell and had worked for the series’ Green Light Racing.
