Crew chief Ren joins KHI, will wrench for Hornaday

Less than a month-and-a-half after leading Johnny Benson to a second-place points finish in the Craftsman Truck Series, veteran crew chief Rick Ren has left Bill Davis Racing.

Ren, who's scored 11 victories in his Truck Series career with Benson, Travis Kvapil, Andy Houston and Rick Carelli, has accepted a similar position working with two-time series champion Ron Hornaday at Kevin Harvick Inc.

Hornaday, the Truck Series' career victories leader with 29, won twice in 2006 and finished seventh in points driving KHI's No. 33 Chevrolet.

Ren led Benson's team to five victories, including a thrilling rally at Phoenix in the series' penultimate race, before falling 127 points short of Todd Bodine in the championship. Benson was only 86 points behind Bodine with three races remaining.

Benson's No. 23 Toyota recorded a single Bud Pole, 13 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s in 25 races. Using several crew chiefs last season, Hornaday had a pole, eight top-fives and 12 top-10s.

BDR reportedly is considering a short list of possible replacements for Ren.

Truck Series teams are scheduled for a three-day test at Daytona from Jan. 12-14.