Ron Hornaday's Looking for Some Good Karma at Martinsville

Ron Hornaday and his No. 33 Longhorn team are looking to turn their luck around with a good finish at Martinsville and to get back into the hunt, point wise.

Horn has a series-leading 45 wins, 20 of which have come on the short tracks. But he's still looking for his first Martinsville win which he's been close to achieving in the past.

Since joining Kevin Harvick, Inc. in 2005, he has had only one finish outside the top-15 at the track, so the odds are in his favor that he'll have some good karma this weekend.

Of course he is superstitious, so he's back to sticking with his proven pre-race routine. Back are his lucky, dirty, old sneakers and a friendly love punch to Dennis Adcock, the head of the Truck Series officials.

Martinsville is a tough track. It's all about keeping the fenders on, and it's a matter of survival.

Another key element is pit strategy and the teams play a key role for the winner on pit road.

Horn's new crew chief Doug George just may give him the edge needed to break through to celebrating victory on the front stretch.

"The biggest thing is getting back on track. We haven't had the greatest start to the season, so it's just really important for us to get out there do the best we can and gain the maximum amount of points," Hornaday said.

He'll be driving chassis No. 039 at Martinsville. It's the same truck that Kevin Harvick dominated Phoenix with for a victory last season.

Horn no doubt will have a stout truck; they'll be fast and should qualify top-five or higher. He should be among the leaders all race long, running in the top 10, and will challenge for the win or the best possible finish.

It's also a race that just might be what Horn, George, and the No. 33 Longhorn team need to shrug their newness working together and make them stronger as the season kicks into gear in another month.  

Source of Quote and Photo Credit: kevinharvickinc.com