Ron Hornaday Extends Point Standings Lead With New Hampshire Victory

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By Deb Williams

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 15, 2007) - Ron Hornaday dominated Saturday's New Hampshire 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway, easily claiming his 33rd career victory and extending his point lead in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

“Wow! Three-three wins. That is unbelievable; that is cool,” a joyous Hornaday said.

Driving the No. 33 Camping World Silverado fielded by Kevin Harvick Inc., Hornaday led 174 of the 200 laps at the 1.058-mile track.

“I can't say that I have ever had a truck that was as good as what I had today,” a happy Hornaday said. “It is just so awesome for this truck to do what it has done today. I put it in positions it shouldn't have been in and it came out of every one of them. I have to thank Richard Childress Racing engines for awesome horsepower. This is the same truck we have finished in the top-three with three times and we finally won with it. This is our lucky charm little truck right here.

“Kevin and Delana (Harvick) have built an organization where no one ever says die; that is what makes us run hard. That is what you work for and build on. They keep putting awesome trucks underneath me week-in and week-out. It is just unbelievable to be able to race this hard and finish like this.”

The two-time NCTS champion extended his lead in the 2007 standings to 29 points with seven races remaining in the season. It was Hornaday's fourth win this year, his 10th top-five and 17th top-10 in 18 races. However, crew chief Rick Ren knows the Camping World Silverado team can't afford any mistakes down the stretch if it wants to claim the championship.

"We figured out a couple weeks ago that we have to qualify well, lead the most laps and just race to win to win this championship, because it is going to go down to the wire,” Ren said.

“The Camping World Silverado was just bad (today), I mean, she was just fast, fast right out of the hauler. That truck has finished third three times and she finally gets to go to victory lane."

Rain Saturday morning canceled qualifying for the 36-truck field, so the grid was set by provisions in the NASCAR rule book.

The Craftsman Truck Series now heads to Las Vegas for the Sept. 22 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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Covered via electronic media.