KHI teammates digging out of early hole in 2008

Ron Hornaday and Jack Sprague have long been rivals on the track. Now the two friends and the only three-time series champions in Craftsman Truck Series history are teammates and early favorites to challenge for a fourth series title.

But neither has lived up to expectations to start 2008.

Fast Facts

What	American Commercial Lines 200
When	8:30 p.m. ET Friday
TV	SPEED
Radio	MRN / Sirius Ch. 128

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They enter Friday night's American Commercial Lines 200 (8:30 p.m. ET, SPEED) at Atlanta Motor Speedway looking to recover from uncharacteristically slow starts to their seasons, both for themselves and for Chevrolet. Of the 20 possible top-10 finishes in the first two races of the year, Chevy drivers have scored three.

Toyota has looked invincible so far, winning the first two races at Daytona and Fontana. Toyota also has swept the top four positions in both races and scored a total of 12 top-10 finishes.

But the Chevrolet program on the intermediate tracks has been strong in recent years. In the seven CTS races at Atlanta, Chevy has four wins including Hornaday's 2005 victory and Kyle Busch's win last October.

"Atlanta is one of those tracks that you can run wide open," Hornaday, who is ninth in the points standings, said. "The turns there have almost as much banking as Daytona and Talladega, and you can carry some really good speed going down the straightaways. We sat on the pole and finished second down there last October with a good truck. We tested at Atlanta back in January and did really well; learned some things that I think will pay off for us when we get there for the race."

Sprague is tied for 22nd in the standings but brimming with confidence heading into the third race of the year.

"We ran really well at the test," Sprague said. "We are taking back the same truck and one that has a winning reputation. I think we are going to go back to Atlanta even better than we tested. We need to begin to get the ball rolling in the right direction this season, and I think Atlanta is the perfect place for us to turn our luck around."

Friday's race also marks the NASCAR debut of former Formula One driver Scott Speed (read more).

"The great thing about this truck race for me is that there's zero pressure for me to go out there and bring home some amazing finish," Speed said. "I know what I'm up against -- I have about two hours of practice, then I have to be ready to race. I love throwing myself off the deep end every once in a while."

Hot Racing In Hotlanta

Two races into the season, Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54 mile "intermediate" track, could be pivotal for one's championship run.

By the Numbers

Kyle Busch is the only driver in Craftsman Truck Series history to win two races at Atlanta.

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The Truck Series champion has won at least one race on an intermediate track in six of the last eight seasons.

Todd Bodine is off to a strong start after winning the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and a runner-up finish at Auto Club Speedway.

"First place one week, second the next -- that's how you win championships," he said.

Bodine has visited Victory Lane at AMS, the same year he won the series championship in 2006.

Reigning series champion Hornaday and former series champion Mike Skinner have both snagged the checkered flag at Atlanta as well.

Skinner, with an average starting position of second in seven starts at Atlanta, is looking to end his current six-race winless streak and add another series title to his resume.

Three-time series champion Sprague is chasing his first win at AMS, one of eight tracks on the series schedule where the driver has yet to visit Victory Lane.

Experienced Newcomers

TRG Motorsports may be new the new kid on the NASCAR block, but experience is something the team has. Since its inception in 1993, TRG (The Racer's Group) has competed in and dominated the top level of sports car racing.

In the spring of 2007, owner and CEO Kevin Buckler made the decision to enter the Truck Series.

On the decision to enter the series, Buckler said, "The Truck Series is extremely competitive. The guys are like gladiators out there."

With the rookie duo of Andy Lally and Donny Lia, Buckler and crew feel they have put together two teams that will hold their own in the series.

The first three-time Grand Am Rolex Series champion, Lally is competing in his first full NASCAR season and is on a mission to win in the series.

Lia joins TRG following an impressive 2007 season in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, which culminated with the series championship.

"I'm excited to be racing for TRG Motorsports. I know that we have good equipment and good people so I am confident heading into the season," Lia said.

NASCAR Media contributed to this report