Ron Hornaday Jr. finished third for Turner Scott Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday after rain on Wednesday night forced the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race to be pushed to an early-morning start time. The four-time NCWTS champion started the weekend strong in the No. 30 HTPG Refrigeration Chevrolet, finishing fourth in the lone practice session on Wednesday afternoon. Hornday then went out during NASCAR’s knockout qualifying and ran a time of 15.447 seconds, good enough for the third starting position for the 200-lap race.
After the drop of the green flag, Hornaday slipped one spot to fourth and continued to hold his position until the first caution flag came out on lap 16. During the caution, Hornaday relayed to crew chief Doug George that his Silverado was sung in but that his HTPG Refrigeration Chevy was coming to him. Electing to stay out under the caution, Hornaday restarted in the fourth position on lap 23. Hornaday gained a spot on the initial restart and maintained his third-place position until the NASCAR-mandated competition caution came out on lap 50. During the caution, George called the No. 30 down pit road for four tires and fuel. Maintaining his position, Hornaday restarted in third on lap 58. Hornaday would defended his spot during three more cautions and a long green-flag run to end the race, bringing the HTPG Refrigeration Chevy home in the third position. The third-place finish marked Hornaday’s fifth top five and 10th top 10 this season and moved him to third in the NCWTS Driver Point Standings, just 17 points out of the lead.
Ron Hornaday on Bristol Motor Speedway:
“Today was a great day for this HTPG Refrigeration team. The guys worked hard on our Silverado on a short week and it showed with speed right off the truck. This No. 30 team is really coming together well and we are right there in position to get our first win really soon. I’m looking forward to turning right and left next weekend in Canada during our only road course stop of the season.”
TSM PR
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