Milwaukee win propelled Hornaday to fourth title

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- You couldn't have asked for a better birthday present than the one Ron Hornaday received at the Milwaukee Mile in June. He dominated the Copart 200, leading 180 of the 200 laps, en route to the first of five consecutive Camping World Truck Series victories. And in the process, Hornaday turned a 27-point deficit into a 216-point advantage, propelling him to his fourth series championship.

Tight bond

Ron Hornaday and Kevin Harvick are more than driver and owner -- they are good friends, which is one of the secrets to their success.

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Starting third, Hornaday immediately went to the front on the third lap and stayed there for much of the rest of the day, only giving up the lead under cautions for pit service.

"To be honest, I don't think our truck was all that good," said Hornaday, who celebrated his 51st birthday in the process. "We were just that much better than everyone else. You can't anticipate having a truck as dominate as we had."

Hornaday kept up his torrid summer pace the following week at Memphis, leading all but 26 of the 201 laps. He then proceeded to take the checkered flag at Kentucky, Indianapolis and Nashville in successive races, putting his closest pursuer, Matt Crafton, well in his rear-view mirror.

That wasn't the case early on, as Hornaday didn't acquire the top spot in the points until his victory at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the sixth race of the season. But a broken oil pump belt saddled him with a 19th-place finish, allowing Crafton to assume the points lead. The top two stayed that way until Hornaday went on his five-race winning streak.

Hornaday didn't win again for the rest of year, finishing with a total of six, but he scored seven top-10 finishes in his final eight races to salt away the championship for team owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick at Phoenix. And even though his hot streak started on his 51st birthday, Hornaday said winning never gets old.

"When you drive Kevin and DeLana's equipment, you feel like you are 18," Hornaday said. "You feel young. The trucks they give me make me feel like a hero."