What a difference a year makes for Hornaday, Bliss (cont'd)

And he is no stranger to the Truck Series. Despite running only three races, he has a win, a seventh-place finish and he's led laps in all three races. His win came in his last Truck race, where he started on the pole at Texas and led 103 laps before taking the checkered flag.

"I'm really excited to get back behind the wheel of a truck," Bowyer said. "I had a lot of fun last year in the Truck Series and I was really happy when Kevin and DeLana [Harvick] asked me to drive for them in a few races this season.

"I'm looking forward to racing in Atlanta, especially since the track is similar to Texas, where I got my first Truck Series win last season. I'll be pulling triple-duty, so hopefully I can start the weekend off right with a good run in the Camping World Silverado."

Mike Bliss, who won the fall race at Atlanta in 2006, is another past winner who would love to be the first repeat champ at the track.

"It's always nice to go back to a place where you won before," Bliss said. "We had a good run in the truck in California, and I'll be driving that same truck in Atlanta. It helps to know that you'll be driving a truck that is dependable and that you have some experience with it as far as setup is concerned, that should definitely help."

Bliss is in a similar situation to Hornaday. Last year, Bliss was more of an afterthought following the California race. He didn't make the field at Daytona, finished 18th at California and found himself at the bottom of the Truck Series standings.

Two races into this season, Bliss sits 14th on the year in points and has a new outlook on his race team.

"One thing is for certain," Bliss said. "This race team is improving from race to race. How much it has improved remains to be seen, and I just hope that we are all up to the task.

"Atlanta is a tough place to race at, and I hope I know what I need in Atlanta to have another good effort. But everyone is pumped up, and if the team was able to work on its weaknesses and make improvements to the truck that we felt we needed, we should be good."