Ron Hornaday Jr. and Mike Skinner, two of the most notable drivers in the history of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, will join legendary Cup Series crew chief Jeff Hammond as dignitaries for the May 20 Tyson 250 Truck Series race. The Tyson 250 will be the feature event on Saturday of All-Star Race weekend as NASCAR returns to one of its original tracks May 19-21, during the 75th anniversary season of the sport.
Hornaday, a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and four-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion, finished fifth in the inaugural Tyson 250 — then a 150-lap event — in 1995. The 51-time Truck Series race winner was named one of NASCAR‘s 75 Greatest Drivers this week. He will spend his return to North Wilkesboro as the Grand Marshal, giving the command to start engines before the Truck Series‘ first race at North Wilkesboro in nearly 27 years.
Skinner won the first Truck Series championship in 1995, and was the pole winner for the Tyson 250 the same year. Instead of returning to the cockpit this year, the driver who earned the nickname “The Gun Slinger” will work from the flag stand — where he‘ll wave the green flag to begin the event.
Known for his exploits as an innovative crew chief and jackman — and, later, a Truck Series race-winning team owner — Hammond traces his North Wilkesboro roots further back than most anyone visiting the iconic track in May. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series title-winning crew chief worked nearby for Junior Johnson‘s race team through the mid-1980s, before following driver — and future NASCAR on FOX broadcasting partner — Darrell Waltrip to Hendrick Motorsports. Hammond‘s race-day duties at North Wilkesboro will see his driving skills put to the test, as the Honorary Chevrolet Silverado Pace Truck Driver.
“Ron, Mike and Jeff played such a big part in building the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, and it‘s an honor for us to have them recognized as our dignitaries for the Tyson 250,” said NASCAR All-Star Race Executive Director Jessica Fickenscher. “We‘re seeing such a passion from NASCAR legends about returning to North Wilkesboro, and we look forward to bringing an entirely new generation to this historic race track in May for all of our All-Star Race week activities.”
— North Wilkesboro Speedway —
