Ron Hornaday: MBNA 200 preview

DOVER, Del. -- Ron Hornaday and the ACDelco Chevrolet head to Dover International Speedway, hoping to get their successful season back on track.

After winning at Nazareth (PA) Speedway two weeks ago, the team finished a disappointing 21st at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte (NC) last weekend.

The finish dropped the two-time NASCAR Truck Series champion to fifth in the drivers standings. However, the team is very optimistic about their chances this weekend in Dover. Hornaday raced his way from an 18th place starting spot to a sixth place finish in last years race driving for Carroll Racing.

The ACDelco transporter will unload chassis No. 010 at Dover International Speedway. It is the same car the team ran at Rockingham,

Darlington and Bristol.

It hasn't been to victory lane yet in 2003, but it is probably the car that Hornaday feels most comfortable driving.

"This car really reacts to changes," said Hornaday. "Some cars just never feel the way they should, but this car does what it is supposed to when you make a specific change."

ACDelco crew chief Rick Viers is a native of Darlington, Maryland, and grew up just an hour from Dover International Speedway. Many of his childhood memories revolved around racing at Dover.

Viers has also been to victory lane at Dover. He changed tires for Harry Gant's team during the famous four-in-a-row streak during September of 1991 and has a few setup tricks of his own for the "Monster Mile."

What is the key to getting a car to handle well at Dover?

"The biggest key is getting the car to turn without it getting tight off the corner or loose getting in. Since this track went to concrete, the groove has been right on the bottom. In the days of asphalt, you could run all over the place. Harry Gant used to run the high line at Dover. He would be right up against the wall. Those days are gone.

"But the good news now is that the track doesn't change a great deal. If you hit the setup, it will work all day long.

"We are bringing car number ten to Dover. It really reacts to changes and it has been probably our most comfortable car for Ron. It ran really well on the concrete at Bristol, so I think we will be very strong this weekend."

Did you go to many races as a kid growing up in Maryland?

"I went to every race I could. I remember being at a race at Dover when Richard Childress and Cecil Gordon came into the crowd to sign autographs. I thought that was the coolest deal. I also got the idea of working in racing there.

"I met Ned Jarrett on pit road and asked him how to get into racing and he told me to offer my weekend time to one of the independent

drivers like J.D. McDuffie or James Hylton. And I did just that. I started working for Hylton sweeping floors and helping out and that launched my career."

What is your most memorable moment from Dover?

"I guess it would be winning with Harry Gant as a tire changer back in 1991. That September we had won two races in a row coming into Dover and we could really feel the pressure. Harry ran his typical line right up next to the crowd and we won our third straight race.

"It was really amazing. He just really knew that track. In fact, he won the Grand National race the day before and I changed tires for that car as well. So I went to victory lane twice that weekend. It was a great week.

"The next week we went to Martinsville and crashed during the race but still won for our fourth straight. It was amazing!"