Keeping pace…
It shouldn’t surprise people that Austin Dillon earned the pole for Friday nights’ opening race of the Camping World Truck Series season.
Dillon blasted the field Thursday night and is picking up right where he left off his 2010 season.
His pole is fitting as he drives the black No.3 for his grandfather, Richard Childress and will lead the field to green on the 10 year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. death.
Dillon has quickly turned heads with his two wins and record setting pole runs in 2010.The question remains can Dillon keep pace with his 2010 numbers?
That team is basically the same team as they were last year and they haven’t lost anything underneath the truck as you can tell.
This year though he is not a rookie and his success in 2010 might not come. Last year at Daytona International Speedway he started third and finished 26th.
Dillon would like to bring Chevrolet its first win at DIS; they have yet to win in CWTS at DIS.
Bounce back…
Ron Hornaday, Jr. didn’t have exactly the 2010 season he imagined. After a dominating season in 2009 to say Hornaday struggled is an understatement.
Hornaday only won two races after having six wins in 2009; Hornaday and his team are looking for a rebound.
Owner Kevin Harvick admitted on Thursday that they didn’t give Hornaday their best equipment.
Jeff Hensley moved from Timothy Peters and Red Horse Racing over to KHI, to sit atop the box for Hornaday.
The organization has made changes in the off season that they are hoping will have them hoisting the trophy on Friday night and at Homestead in the fall.
Lug nuts…
Mike Skinner failed to qualify for the race on Friday night. Skinner was the series inaugural champion in 1995.
Skinner missed the race but could not use the past champions provisional because he was entered after the entry deadline.
Following post qualifying inspection Nelson Piquet, Jr.’s roof was found to be too low. Also, Aric Almirola’s rear was too low.
Both will race on Friday night as they were locked into the race.
Notable qualifiers: Johanna Long to start fifth, Jeffery Earnhardt, 23rd, Kyle Busch, 21st and Michael Waltrip, 11th.
The NextEra Energy Resources 250 is Friday night at 7:30ET on SPEED.
Photo: teamdillonracing.com
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