California a chance for many to return home

"There's no place like home."

Those were the immortal words of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz as she looked to leave the magical world of Oz and return to Kansas.

For a fifth of the Craftsman Truck Series field in Friday's San Bernardino County 200 at the California Speedway (8:30 p.m. ET, SPEED), they are hoping there truly is no place like home. Seven of the 34 Truck entries field drivers from the Golden State, a homecoming these seven are ready for.

Credit: Autostock

By the Numbers:
California

After a dramatic win in the Daytona 500, Kevin Harvick returns to his home state of California to race in the Truck Series for the first time since 2005.

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"I am looking forward to going back home to California this week," rookie Tyler Walker said. "California Speedway is what I would call my hometown track. I was born and raised around Los Angeles and can't wait to get back and see all my family and friends."

Walker, who drives the No. 36 Toyota Tundra for Bill Davis Racing, has run one Busch Series race at California Speedway, but this will be his first time around the 2-mile oval in a truck. In addition to Walker, fellow rookie A.J. Allmendinger, Ron Hornaday, Mike Skinner, Bill Lester, Kevin Harvick and Matt Crafton are all from California.

But aside from Hornaday, success hasn't come easy to the native Californians at their home track.

Hornaday, the Palmdale, Calif., native who drives the No. 33 Chevy for Kevin Harvick Inc., has raced a truck at the speedway five times. In four of those races he has finished in the top-five. After his top-10 finish at Daytona, Hornaday realizes this is the perfect opportunity for him to start building a magical season.

"Going to California is always good for me because of the fans; the racetrack is close to my hometown," Hornaday said. "In the last California race we lost the master cylinder and had no brakes. Heading into the second race with a seventh-place finish at Daytona is a good way to start the season off."

Hornaday's teammate Harvick will have a very busy weekend at California.

The Bakersfield native will take the wheel of the No. 2 Chevy and perform triple-duty this weekend, driving in the Truck, Busch and Cup races.

Harvick hasn't been behind the wheel of a truck since 2005 and hasn't driven a Truck Series race at California since 1999, where he finished a career-best 15th. But that doesn't mean Harvick won't enjoy his busy weekend. (Continued)