Matt Crafton has driven the No. 6 Chevy to average finish of 11.3 so far this year. Credit: Autostock

Hornaday signs on to drive Harvick truck in '05

CONCORD, N.C. -- Kevin Harvick has turned the tables on Ron Hornaday.

Hornaday, a two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and the all-time victory leader, helped Harvick get his first ride in the truck series. Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Harvick hired Hornaday to drive the Kevin Harvick Inc. truck for 2005.

Hornaday replaces Matt Crafton, who is fifth in the NCTS points standings but hasn't won in 2004.

Ron Hornaday

"Ron has helped me a lot in my racing career," Harvick said. "I slept on his couch for a long time. He's responsible for my first truck series ride."

Now, Harvick is responsible for Hornaday's latest ride.

"The only reason we're going back is (Jack) Sprague is getting close on wins," Hornaday said. "We're going to go out there and win 26 more."

Hornaday was kidding, sort of. But Hornaday has plans to win, and he'll do whatever it takes. Known in the sport as one of the most aggressive drivers, Hornaday had famous feuds with Sprague and Mike Skinner.

"I think Kevin's already put bigger front bumpers on it," Hornaday said.

Hornaday is a proven commodity and should help get KHI's No. 6 Chevrolet in Victory Lane. Chevrolet stepped up its involvement in the truck series for 2004, partly by helping Harvick run a full-time team.

2004 CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES •   Results •   Standings •   Schedule •   Best 25 Over Last Six Races •   Best Starts •   Best Finishes

Crafton has been consistent, but Harvick wants more.

"He's trying to keep Kevin's trucks in one piece," Hornaday said. "But Kevin wants to win, he wants to bring the steering wheel back - and the trophy."

Hornaday has won 26 truck races in his career, two more than Sprague.

"The main thing we're looking for is to make sure Chevrolet and GM Goodwrench are happy," Harvick said. "From a marketing standpoint, there's not going to be a bigger story than the GM Goodwrench truck an Ron Hornaday.

Kevin Harvick

"We've put extra people in the body shop. We don't care if the thing comes back with the bumper and the side ripped off every week. That's the kind of person I am, that's the kind of person Ron is and that's the kind of person Richard (Childress) is. That's why I got my job, and that's why he got his job."

Childress recently announced that Hornaday would not return to RCR's No. 2 Busch Series team in 2005, and Harvick didn't wait long to talk to his boss. Harvick also drives for Childress, piloting the No. 29 Nextel Cup car.

KHI uses Richard Childress Racing engines.

"It's going to be exciting for us a company and everybody involved from Goodwrench and Chevrolet," Harvick said. "It's important for this program to succeed. We put this program together with a will to win, and we came up a little bit short of that this year. With a driver change, I think we're going to be right where we need to be."

Harvick also said he would announce a Busch Series effort for 2005 next Friday, confirming that he and a "fellow Cup competitor" will share time in the car. But he wouldn't say who the driver would be.

"We have a couple Busch cars," Harvick said. "We're going to be doing some exciting things with that."