Hornaday rallies from lap down for first win of 2009

CONCORD, N.C. -- Ron Hornaday raced to his first victory of the season and the 40th of his career, holding off Kyle Busch over the final laps Friday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Hornaday passed 2008 winner Matt Crafton for the lead shortly after the restart on Lap 106 of the 134-lap race. Busch, who had eventful night that included wrecking then-leader Colin Braun, couldn't catch Hornaday over the closing laps (watch video) and failed to win for the ninth time this season in NASCAR's top three series.

Results

N.C. Education Lottery 200

Pos.	Driver	Make
1.	Ron Hornaday	Chevrolet
2.	Kyle Busch	Toyota
3.	Matt Crafton	Chevrolet
4.	Ryan Newman	Chevrolet
5.	Terry Cook	Toyota
6.	David Gilliland	Chevrolet
7.	David Starr	Toyota
8.	Tayler Malsam	Toyota
9.	Stacy Compton	Toyota
10.	Dennis Setzer	Chevrolet

• Race: Results | Photos

Crafton was third, followed by Ryan Newman and Terry Cook in a race that included a spectacular crash involving Mike Skinner 35 laps in.

Skinner was unhurt, but gave up the points lead to Hornaday, who now has an 84-point edge.

Hornaday was once a lap down when he was in the pits when a caution was called. But he clearly had the superior truck.

"She was fast at the end," the 50-year-old Hornaday said. "This was really cool. I won at Lowe's."

Braun led more laps Friday (43) than he had all season (28) -- until Busch turned to the inside and hit the right rear corner of Braun's No. 6 Ford on the 88th lap. Braun crashed into the outside wall, ending his night (watch video).

"That was my fault," Busch said. "An error on my part."

Busch, who earlier was penalized for having too many men over the wall in his pit stall, was penalized for rough driving. He was forced to the back of the longest line of cars, putting Todd Bodine into the lead.

It lasted for just over a lap until Bodine lost control and slammed the wall (watch video).

It was nothing like Skinner's wreck early on.

Skinner, with car owner and New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss watching from the pits, was bumped by Johnny Sauter into the infield grass. Skinner's No. 5 Toyota then skidded across the track, and just before it was to hit the outside wall, T.J. Bell slammed into him.

Skinner's car went airborne, landed on top of Bell's car, then back in the air before it crashed onto its side in the middle of the track as debris flew.

• Skinner-Bell crash: Watch video | Photo Gallery

"I'm all right," Skinner quickly said over his radio as his car finally came to a stop.

He was released a few minutes later from the infield care center.

"We had a good year going and we didn't need this hiccup here," Skinner said, clearly upset with Sauter. "That was that impact that a few years back that would have sent you off in a helicopter with your head taped to a board."

The race was red-flagged for 19 minutes as workers fixed the fence and wall at the crash point.

"I'm just happy everybody's OK," said Bell, also unhurt. "I had to watch the replay to see what happened. I was just hoping Mike was OK because of the hit he took."

Hornaday clearly had the best car, frustrating Busch with his power in the corners.

"I'm not very happy about the 33 and the Chevrolets having the advantages that they do," Busch said. "It's just frustrating to have to race against that."

The starting grid was set by owners points because of afternoon rain, putting Busch on the pole.

• Video: Victory Lane | Busch reacts