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TRUCKS: Hornaday A Worthy Champion
Written by: Tom Jensen   
11/13/2009
Avondale, AZ
 
Crew chief Rick Ren (Left) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (Right) celebrate after clinching the series title with a fourth place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. (Photo: Getty Images) ยป More Photos

Richard Petty. Dale Earnhardt. Jeff Gordon. And now, Ron Hornaday Jr.

Ron Hornaday, Jr. 2009 Season Review Gallery

Hornaday became just the fourth four-time champion in one of NASCAR’s top three divisions Friday night, with a fourth-place finish in the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. In the process, at the ripe old age of 51, he also become the oldest champion in a top NASCAR division.

It was a moment of supreme triumph for Hornaday, who previously won Truck Series titles in 1996, ’98 and 2007 and narrowly missed last season, when he lost by a mere 7 points to Johnny Benson.

In 24 races this season, Hornaday has amassed impressive numbers, with four poles, six victories, 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes.

More than that, though, the 51-year-old California native has created a body of work over his career that’s earned him a place with NASCAR’s greats and the respect of his fellow drivers.

There are 45 Truck Series victories in 249 starts on Hornaday’s resume, and now, of course, the four titles.

“I think if you look at just the Truck Series alone, he'll go down in history as probably the best, the greatest ever,” said Jimmie Johnson,
who himself is pursuing a fourth NASCAR championship. “When you look at what he has done in the sport in general, from Winston West racing and the late models on the West Coast all the way through Truck, Cup and Nationwide, he has done it all and was very competitive in all of those series.”

But as much as he’s accomplished on the track, what Hornaday’s accomplished off the track is equally impressive.

In the Hornaday household, the family’s well worn black leather couch doubled as a bed for many an aspiring racer.

Johnson, of course, is a California native like Hornaday and Hornaday’s boss, Kevin Harvick, who won Friday night’s race. According to Johnson, Hornaday’s generosity and willingness to help young racers is well known to other drivers.

“I think his legacy is going to be better defined as time goes on, but he's going to be known for more than just what he has done in the Truck Series,” Johnson said of Hornaday. “I see guys today that talk about late models that he built for them. … There are so many people that you affect and touch and work with over time, that I think Ron ... Ron will be known as the greatest ever … but he has done so much more. I think people that are close to him respect him more for the man he is than just what he has accomplished in a car.”


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