Notes: Hornaday, Skinner shaping up to battle again

Four races into the 2009 season, Ron Hornaday and Mike Skinner sit third and fourth in the Camping World Truck Series standings, respectively, with a mere five points separating the two.

This isn't anything new.

They have been here before, battling for wins and titles in 155 races in the past 15 seasons in the Truck Series.

Hornaday easily appears to be an early contender for this year's title. His lowest finish in four races was seventh at Atlanta.

Although with a new team, Skinner is off to a strong start after what was an up-and-down 2008. So far, he has finished outside the top 10 only once -- coming in 11th at Fontana.

The pair hold four titles between the them. Skinner was the inaugural series champion in 1995 with Hornaday finishing third. The drivers swapped places the following season as Hornaday grabbed his first title. They went on to finish 1-2 in 2007, with Hornaday beating rival Skinner by 52 points in a down-to-the-wire title battle.

As the season unfolds, these are two to keep your eye on.

No repeat winners at Kansas

The series heads to Kansas Speedway on April 25 where in eight visits the track has yet to produce a repeat winner. Midwest fans have seen winners from all experience levels, from rookie Ricky Hendrick in 2001 to three-time series champion Hornaday a year ago.

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Kansas fans also have witnessed drivers grab their first career victories, such as Erik Darnell in 2007. Fellow Roush Fenway Racing driver Colin Braun still is searching for his first career NASCAR win. He was third in last year's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, his best career finish. Braun looks to follow Darnell's footsteps.

Someone else to watch could be Matt Crafton, who has been a factor already this season, collecting three top-10 finishes. This past May, he grabbed his first career win at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a track with a similar layout to Kansas.

Todd Bodine, second in the standings, found Victory Lane in 2005. Bodine, who is off to an incredible start, could possibly be the driver to break the no-repeat-winner streak.

Bodine's only finish outside the top three this year came at Martinsville after he was caught up on a last-lap incident which relegated him to 18th place. (Continued)