Hornaday gets Cup chance with Foyt.

It almost seemed cruel that Ron Hornaday may be left without a competitive ride next year after Dale Earnhardt Inc announced that they would be transferring their #3 NAPA Chevrolet to the Winston Cup in 2001 with veteran Michael Waltrip as the driver, leaving their current steed without a confirmed ride for the upcoming season.

As DEI's announcement came in the height of the NASCAR 'silly season' most pit-lane observers felt that it would take no time before someone snapped up a driver who has set the standard to which ALL, and I mean all, drivers aim for in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and then made the switch to Stock Cars with ease.

Hornaday has been one of the revelations of the year in NASCAR's hard fought and sometimes a little chaotic secondary series and has been a consistent front-runner in the #3 machine despite this being his first year out of short track cars or trucks. The 42-year-old driver has won twice in his debut year and is currently fifth in the standings, beating the likes of Randy LaJoie, Casey Atwood, Elton Sawyer and David Green. And yet for a while it looked as though nothing was forthcoming for someone who had 'Winston Cup' marked all over him.

However a white knight arrived yesterday in the form of battle hardened, tough talking legend AJ Foyt and Hornaday suddenly became a major contender for the 2001 NASCAR Reybestos Rookie of the Year. Foyt signed Hornaday to an undisclosed contract to drive the #14 Conseco Pontiac in next year's Winston Cup in a partnership that has the potential to really set some tongues wagging next year.

Hornaday will take the wheel for Foyt's sophomore WC campaign and he will be hoping that the seldom seen potential that the squad has shown this year becomes a more common occurrence. Judging by the way in which Hornaday has embraced the BGN scene, you get the impression that the duo could become a regular top ten contender if everything comes together on BOTH sides of the pit-wall.

This year has been traumatic to say the least for Foyt who has disposed of both Mike Bliss and Dick Trickle after a less than successful start to his Winston Cup ownership career before settling with amiable veteran Rick Mast who has posted two top ten finishes in his stint with the team and has been a regular top 15 qualifier in what has been a very quick car at times.

However the squad has not gelled as a unit and with Foyt's added health scare earlier this year, a change was certainly in order for 2001 and Hornaday will be one of several new faces on the Foyt scene next year. The team appear to be coming together as the 2000 season winds down and if the momentum they are currently carrying can continue into the off-season, we could see a very different outfit at Daytona in February next year.