What a difference a year makes for Hornaday, Bliss

Atlanta has provided Truck Series fans with some of the best racing in the series. Three of the five races have ended in a green-white-checkered finish and the largest margin of victory is just over a half a second. Combine that with two fantastic finishes so far in this 2007 season, and Friday night's American Commercial Lines 200 (8:30 p.m. ET, SPEED) should provide one amazing ending.

One thing Atlanta has not seen though is a repeat winner. In five races, five different drivers have taken their truck to Victory Lane, something 2005 winner Ron Hornaday hopes he can change.

By the Numbers: Atlanta

The Craftsman Truck Series has been good to three-time champion Jack Sprague. Now the driver, along with Rick Crawford, have an opportunity to reach another milestone ... both will start their 250th Truck Series race.

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"I'm looking forward to Atlanta -- we know where the winner's circle is. We did a burnout there before, and I'd like to put another one in there," Hornaday said.

Hornaday knows all about close finishes at Atlanta. His .008-second margin of victory in 2005 is the closest race in Truck Series history at the 1.54-mile track when he edged Bobby Labonte in a green-white-checkered shootout.

Through two races, Hornaday's season is a complete 180 compared to last year. In 2006, heading into Atlanta, Hornaday was 28th in the point standings, 219 behind leader Mark Martin. This year, Hornaday sits fourth in the standings, just 34 points behind co-leaders Jack Sprague and Mike Skinner.

Hornaday looks at the expansion to two trucks at Kevin Harvick Inc. as the reason for his success.

"Having the second truck, it is really going to make our team shine this year," Hornaday said. "Clint Bowyer is going out there in the No. 2 truck and we will get some good feedback from him during practice.

"It's 10 times better than the start of last year, with a loose wheel and carburetor shaft busting at California. Now here we are in the top five in points, it gives us so much more of a head start than last year."

Bowyer will become the third driver in as many races to take the wheel of the No. 2 Chevrolet. At Daytona, Cale Gale drove the truck to a 14th-place finish. Team owner Kevin Harvick pulled triple-duty at California and finished eighth. Now it's Bowyer's turn to pull the weekend trifecta. (Continued)