12 Sam Hornish Jr.

YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECAP

2011: Finished 23rd in series points. … Despite starting the season in disappointing fashion following an accident in the season-opener at Daytona, had career-year in stock cars in limited schedule of 13 starts for Penske Racing. … Best start, second twice, at Richmond-1, Michigan. … Average start 8.3. … Won first career stock-car race in 143rd start (including NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Camping World Truck, and ARCA Racing Series) in NASCAR Nationwide Series at Phoenix-2. … Average finish of 13.1. … Completed 96.9 percent of laps including seven lead-lap finishes. … Led 107 laps.

2010: Finished 114th in series points. … Competed in one race for owner Bob Keselowski.

2008: Finished 51st in series points. … Made eight starts for Penske Racing, plus two DNQs. … Best start, eighth at Watkins Glen. … Average start of 19.4. … Best finish, 11th at Darlington. … Average finish of 21.2. … Completed 86.9 percent of laps attempted.

2007: Finished 68th in series points. … Made nine starts for Penske Racing. … Best start, fifth at Atlanta. … Average start of 17.9. … Best finish, 15th at Atlanta. … Average finish of 31.3. … Completed 67.6 percent of laps; four races where he did not finish (DNF).

2006: Finished 117th in series points. … Made two starts for Penske Racing but recorded DNFs in both, including NASCAR - and series - debut at Phoenix-2. … Completed 50.4 percent of laps attempted.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

In 2011 stepped back into part-time NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule after three full seasons with Penske Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but did make one NASCAR Sprint Cup start, for Front Row Motorsports at Pocono-1. … Between 2008-10 competed in three full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons for Penske Racing, totaling two top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He was running at the finish of 90 of 106 starts (85 percent) and had 35 lead-lap finishes. … Highlights of those three years were making two consecutive Sprint All-Star Races, in 2008 by finishing second in the Sprint Showdown and in 2009 by winning that qualifying race. … Also finished second in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. … In 2008 made the sole NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start of his career, a ninth-place finish at Martinsville-2 for Bobby Hamilton Racing. … In 2007 had rocky NASCAR Sprint Cup debut season for Penske, making races in only two of eight attempts, though he completed 97.4 percent of the laps at Phoenix-2 and Homestead. … Also made his lone career ARCA start, at Michigan in June for Penske winning the pole, leading 29 laps and finishing second. … Raced in the Izod IndyCar Series from 2000-07, including seven full seasons. He won championships in 2001-02 for Panther Racing, joined Team Penske in 2004 and in 2006, won another title. … In eight IndyCar seasons, won 19 races, had 47 podiums and 10 poles in 116 starts. … Competed in the International Race of Champions for three years, 2002-03 and 2006, with best finish of eighth in 2003 and 2006. … Began the first of two seasons in the U.S. Formula Ford 2000 Series in 1996 before progressing to the CART Toyota Atlantic Championship. … Began racing go-karts at age 11 and four years later won 19 of 55 races and the World Karting Association U.S. Grand National Championship.

NOTEWORTHY

Only three-time champion in Izod IndyCar Series history. … Was involved in the creation of a senior center in Defiance, Ohio, for local residents and the addition of a heart center at Defiance Medical Center. … Over a five-year period was a principal in a charity bowling tournament during the fall Texas race weekend that, in conjunction with Speedway Children's Charities, has raised more than $500,000 to benefit the children of North Texas. ... Enjoys customizing vehicles in a 5,400-square-foot garage in Defiance, a collection that includes a 1930 Model A Ford, 1951 Mercury, 1955 Chevrolet Del Ray, 1965 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, 1967 Chevrolet pick-up, 1977 Kenworth W900-A semi-truck and a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 he received for winning the 2006 Indianapolis 500. … Active on Twitter: @SamHornish.