Kansas City, KS (Sports Network) - Ron Hornaday Jr. led five different times
for a total of 136 laps, including the final 54, en route to capturing
Saturday evening's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at the Kansas Speedway. The No.33
Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet crossed the finish line three lengths ahead of
teammate Jack Sprague.
The victory was Hornaday Jr.'s first of the season and 34th of his Craftsman
Truck Series career.
"I have to thank all the guys, this is fun," said Hornaday Jr.
Hornaday Jr. was in charge for most of the day, but needed to stay out front
while conserving fuel over the final third of the race to preserve the win. He
is the first driver to win a Craftsman race at Kansas from the pole.
Hornaday Jr. had a chance to top off with 40 laps to go, but didn't want
to give up the track position. He stayed on the track and was determined to
stretch his final tank to 60 laps. Meanwhile, Mike Skinner who pitted on lap
110, had more than enough fuel to go the distance.
So it looked like it would be a battle of who was right in estimating fuel
mileage and saving fuel mileage. Skinner would restart in 13th. None of the
top-12 trucks stopped.
Then with 12 laps to go, Todd Bodine slammed the outside wall after trying to
pass a lapped truck and it ended most everyone's fuel concerns. The race
restarted with nine laps to go. But lasted just three laps before Terry Cook
began to smoke and leave fluid on the track. Brian Scott spun and out came a
record 12th caution flag. If anyone had still been worried about fuel, they
weren't now.
Hornaday Jr. made the final restart with two laps to go and Sprague just
behind him. Sprague went high down the backstretch and got close, but could
never get the clean air and Hornaday Jr. had enough fuel to not only reach the
checkered flag, but take on his victory lap.
Colin Braun, Johnny Benson and Skinner completed the top-five.
"We didn't have near as good a truck as the No.33," said Skinner.
The win also gives Hornaday Jr. the series points lead with 775 points, 61
more than Rick Crawford and 71 more than Bodine. The next race is scheduled
for Friday, May 16th at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.