Hornaday returns to Truck Series at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - There might be a little déjà vu for viewers on Friday during the Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona.

But there's no need for a double-take -- that truly is two-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday driving the No. 24 Wolverine Boot Chevrolet owned by Rick Hendrick Motorsports. Hornaday will line up outside of Bud Pole Award sitter Ted Musgrave for the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 at 1 p.m. ET on the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

A month ago, Hornaday didn't even know if or where he would be racing in 2002 -- a mighty surprise considering a resume that features a former series championship, a race victory in the Busch Series and one solid year of Winston Cup experience.

However, Hornaday was let go from the No. 14 Pontiac owned by A.J. Foyt Racing at the end of last year. This, according to him, left him in a bad spot because all of the available rides were already taken.

"There were a couple of things I could have done but I was under contract to A.J. at the time," Hornaday said. "It come to the last race of the year and I found out I was released.

"I got where I am with a lot of hard work. I'm just like anyone else. I have bills to pay and debts to take care of, as well.

"I had to sell off some of my toys and even my kid's race car just before we came down here. My motto is to smile and live everyday like it's Saturday."

A phone call from Rick Hendrick to drive at Daytona gave Hornaday a much-needed boost. Oddly enough, the No. 24 Chevrolet was formerly driven by his archrival Jack Sprague, who has moved to the Busch Series with RHM this year.

"To sit down with Rick Hendrick and listen to him suggest what I should do is really something," Hornaday said. "The truck I'm racing is really one of his son's, Ricky, that was sitting in the museum. He offered it to me and jumped on the chance.

"Things happen for a reason and it's really awesome to get hooked up with a team like Hendrick.

"We picked the No. 24 for the fans even though it was one of Ricky's old No. 17 trucks. If I get up there and get a tire rub mark on it they'll just think its Jack in the truck. I can't do anything wrong in the No. 24."

Sprague and Hornaday had some legendary battles on the track that put the fans on their feet. The competitive nature between the two is what produced a shared five championships between them. Since the Craftsman Truck Series began in 1995, only Mike Skinner and Greg Biffle were the only other champions.

If one thinks Hornaday has lost his competitive edge, the answer would be definite not.

"Rick Hendrick already knows," Hornaday said. "I'm not bringing this truck back to the shop with any fenders on it."