Tuesday, November 1st 'What If' Question

It's never smart to count out the master of the Camping World Truck Series, Ron Hornaday.

The four-time champion entered the 2011 season looking to join Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson as a five-time title winner. But things got off to a rocky start and Hornaday and his No. 33 team have been fighting to get out of a hole ever since. Before the month of September he was sitting outside the top five in points, ninth, and was 68 points behind leader Johnny Sauter.

Even though he had a victory, which came after leader Sauter was black flagged on a green-white-checkered finish, it seemed that it might be time to remove Hornaday from championship talk. A fuel mileage win in Atlanta helped him climb to fifth in points and 48 markers out of the lead, momentum starting to swing. Except next two races Hornaday finished 10th and fifth and had only gained one point in the standings.

Then team owner Kevin Harvick made the decision to put Hornaday in the No. 2 truck in order to help that team win the owner's championship. Hornaday would still get the driver points during his stint in the 2 truck. Suddenly, Hornaday was unbeatable. He won back-to-back races in the 2 at Kentucky and Las Vegas. In Talladega he finished second to teammate Mike Wallace (who was driving the 33 in Hornaday's absence) before he took back over the No. 33 at Martinsville where he finished second.

Hornaday now sits third in points only 15 behind Austin Dillon. The season only has two races remaining, Texas and Homestead, and Hornaday has gone from longshot to one of the favorites. Don't look now, but that veteran might just school the young guns in front of him.

But ...

What if Ron Hornaday hadn't been put in the No. 2 KHI truck at the start of September, would he still have fought back into title contention? (He has two wins and second place finish in the No. 2 and went from 68 to 15 points behind in the standings...) #NASCAR

@Talon64 The way he was running with the #33 crew, never. CC Bruce Cook brought his season and title hopes back to life

@chuckallen2 It's Hornaday, so he definitely could've done it with his 33. This worked out well,whatever the reason.

Tuesday, October 18th 'What If' Question

When Kevin Harvick made the announcement that he would be merging his Nationwide Series program with Richard Childress Racing and disbanding his Camping World Truck Series operation, it put Nelson Piquet Jr. and Ron Hornaday on the market.

Both are now searching for rides for 2012, with Piquet Jr. a hot, young talent with sponsorship and potential. And Hornaday is the wily old vertan who just happens to be a four-time champion and the winningest driver in CWTS history. However, Hornaday hasn't been snatched up by a team yet and said last weekend in Vegas that part of it is because everyone is waiting to see where Piquet Jr. goes.

Said Hornaday, "You ain't going to do it on your talent," about owners calling him, knowing that needs to bring something more to the organization. Like money and sponsorship, which Piquet Jr. has but, "Nelson thinks it's a big game, he's going to learn that this isn't open wheel anymore. People are depending on jobs and everyone's waiting for Nelson to take his $3 million and see what he's going to do to land a job."

It leaves Hornaday waiting as well as he tries to win more races this season and contend for his fifth championship. Time might be running out and when the 2012 seasons starts many hope that the driver who has been with the series since it was born, will be there behind the wheel. While there will be plenty of young drivers to watch and even veterans like MIke Skinner and Todd Bodine to cheer for, the CWTS needs Hornaday.

But ...

What if Ron Hornaday doesn't have a truck ride next year, a) how would you feel and b) who becomes the face if the series? #nascar

@ARosser14 If Ron doesn't have a ride, it is a huge, huge blow to the series. Hard to imagine anyone taking over for him as the "face."

@HarpAmyStabler I would be sad. I think that maybe Ty Dillon or Parker Kligerman might become that face. Or, Todd Bodine? Johnny Benson?

@CCaldwellSM It's interesting how Harvick has him in the 2 truck now. He has a shot at the Championship in that truck! 2 for 2!

@Talon64 It'd be a shame that Ron would be out after proving he's still got it. There's nobody else to replace him as "the guy" either

Jason Remillard (via Facebook) Unfortunately, I think Kyle Busch becomes the face to the uneducated public. To the racing community, it's gotta be Todd Bodine.

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) It would be a crime if Hornaday doesn't have a ride for 2012 in the Trucks. He may find some success in Nationwide, as he's been competitive there before, but Trucks are where he's comfortable. If not, the lead "driver" to this series is Kyle Busch, despite not getting any points for wins. The lead driver that does earn points, well that's a toss up. I'd say Todd Bodine, then even Austin Dillon possibly. It's hard to say right now.

Nancy Nuce (via Facebook) Todd Bodine might not have a ride either. Sponsors don't care what you've done in the past. If they did, Johnny Benson would have a ride. Kyle can't even run a truck the full season cause the sponsors won't pay if he's not in it. As much as I hate to see it, I think both the truck and nationwide series have major problems and will be gone soon if something doesn't change.

William Hildebrand (via Facebook) The series would die if no Hornaday. Hornaday to Trucks = Dale Jr to Sprint Cup.