Ron Hornaday Jr.: New England 200 preview

LOUDON, N.H. -- Ron Hornaday and the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet head into this Saturday's race at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) in third position in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings. Hornaday is just 57 points out of first place.

"I'd rather be leading by about 200 points (laughing)," Hornaday said. "We are in the hunt right now and that is all you can ask. This whole ACDelco team is really starting to gel and the results have shown it. From my experience, it is a lot less stressful to chase the leader, than to try and hold on. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I 'd rather be in first place right now. But I think (Scott) Riggs knows we're closing in on him."

Hornaday has been to victory lane at NHIS in the past. In 1996, the NASCAR Truck Series (NCTS) traveled to Loudon, NH for the first time and Hornaday broke the track in nicely. The No. 16 Chevrolet qualified eighth and led just one lap, but it was the one that counted most, the final lap. Hornaday scored his fourth victory of 1996 at NHIS en route to his first NCTS Championship.

"I have always enjoyed racing here in the past," he said. "But who knows how the track will be this year. I know they have made some changes to the corners in an attempt to get two-wide racing, so I'm sure it will be competitive. I'm not sure how the notes from last year will transfer, but as hard as this ACDelco team works, I think we will be fine even with a clean slate."

The No. 2 ACDelco transporter will unload their Hutcherson-Pagan built drop-snout car this weekend at NHIS. It is the same car that Hornaday drove to a fourth place finish at Milwaukee just three weeks ago. The RCR team also took delivery of a third drop-snout chassis for rookie Marty Lindley to run at Indianapolis Raceway Park in August.

This year is the first year that RCR has run a drop-snout chassis in the NASCAR Busch Series. The drop-snout chassis has been a favorite of Hornaday's on the flat tracks since his days with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.