Childress snaps up Hornaday for 2003.

Richard Childress Racing has announced that two-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday will drive the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series.

In addition, ACDelco announced a renewed four-year partnership with the RCR organization, and unveiled a new paint scheme for their famous blue and white racing machine next season.

"Ron is a great competitor and a proven champion," stated Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "We've had some great battles against him over the years in the Truck Series and the Busch Series so I'm looking forward to him winning races and championships for us instead. I think he gives RCR and ACDelco a great chance to bring home another Busch Series championship."

Hornaday experienced his NASCAR breakout in the Craftsman Truck Series where he amassed 12 poles, 25 wins and two championships in 1996 and 1998 driving for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI). His NASCAR Busch Series debut came with the same owner in 2000, where he collected two wins and runner-up Rookie-of-the-Year honours.

After a brief Winston Cup stint in 2001 with AJ Foyt Racing, the California-native returned to the Busch Series ranks full-time in Loudon, N.H., in 2002 as the pilot of the No. 26 Carroll Racing Chevrolet.

"This is a chance of a lifetime," said Hornaday, who has two top-three and six top five finishes in 24 races this season. "Richard's been such a help to me over the years, and got my relationship with Dale and Teresa Earnhardt off the ground when I was just starting in this business. His Busch program is second to none as far as I'm concerned, and I'm tickled to death to get the chance to work for him and a sponsor like ACDelco. I know they're looking for results, and hopefully a gritty veteran like me can help this team get back to where they belong, on top."

ACDelco's partnership with RCR began in 2000, when the six-time Winston Cup owner opened up his stable to the Busch Series. Both found success together with last year's championship, and the renewed four-year relationship solidifies both companies' dedication to the sport of NASCAR and each other.

Scott Mackie, General Manager of ACDelco, commented on the addition of Ron Hornaday, the new partnership and paint scheme, and changes within ACDelco. "We couldn't be more pleased to have a proven champion like Ron Hornaday climbing aboard as we renew our partnership with RCR. Just like Richard, he has shown throughout his career that he is capable of winning at all levels of competition.

"Many changes have occurred in the ACDelco organization this year, and the paint scheme for the No. 2 ACDelco Busch car is just one of them," added Mackie. "Change isn't easy, but it's inevitable and can be exciting and rewarding. Like the car, it is time for ACDelco to have a fresh face out in the marketplace.

"Our primary objective in all of these efforts has been to greatly increase the value of the ACDelco proposition for our direct and secondary customers which means greater availability for the consumer. This is an exciting time for ACDelco, and we hope customers will continue to use ACDelco for all their aftermarket needs."

"ACDelco has been a great partner over the past three seasons so I'm very glad to be able to continue our relationship for another four," added Childress. "RCR has been able to continue the success ACDelco began with DEI in the NASCAR Busch Series and we look forward to adding to that success in the years to come."

The new paint scheme for the 2003 season, designed by legendary NASCAR artist Sam Bass, is one that embodies the company's exciting transformation in the automotive market place. The No. 2 ACDelco Chevy's familiar blue and white tones acquire a radical red stripe down the sides, creating a dazzling look for the fans watching at home and at the track.

"I am thrilled to have been given the chance to create an exciting new look for the ACDelco team. The idea was to integrate edgier, more aggressive graphics into the tried and true colours of the product brand. The sponsor and RCR team seem quite pleased with the results. I believe the race fans will be also," said Bass.

ACDelco trademarks itself on their unique and distinctive ability to field winners and champions in the NASCAR Busch Series. In their first five seasons, ACDelco never finished outside the top-three in the hunt for the Busch Series championship. ACDelco has claimed more victories (25) than any other sponsor since their entry into the Busch Series (1997), in conjunction with capturing two NASCAR Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year titles (1997, 2000), and the trifecta of championships (1998, 1999, 2001).