BIO:YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP 2009 -- Finished 28th in series points. ... Posted the first top-fives and top-10s of his career in his second full season. ... Finished fourth at Pocono and fifth at Michigan. ... Had eight DNFs, twice as many as in his first full season. ... Started fourth at Talladega, his best-ever qualifying effort, but finished 34th after being involved in an accident. 2008 -- Finished 35th in series points. ... Finished second in Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings, seven points behind Regan Smith. ... With runner-up finish in the Sprint Showdown, raced his way into the All-Star event. ... Finished seventh in the All-Star Race. 2007 -- Finished 62nd in series points. ... Competed in two Cup events, finishing 30th at Phoenix and 37th at Homestead in November. PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY Ran two Busch Series races in 2006 and nine in 2007. ... Only three-time IRL champion in series history. ... IRL career started in 2000 with rookie of the year honors. ... Notched three IRL wins in 2001 on his way to first championship. ... Won five races in his 2002 championship winning season and had four wins in his 2006 championship winning season. ... Won the Indianapolis 500 in 2006. NOTEWORTHY Sam Hornish's open wheel credentials are eye popping. He is the only three time Indy Racing League Champion (2001, 2002, 2006) and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2006. His stock car career has been a work in progress. In his second full season of NASCAR Cup competition Sam has scored two Top Five and 7 Top Ten finishes in 2009. His best Cup finish is 4th at Pocono. He also scored a 5th at team boss Roger Penske's "home" track at Michigan.While it is undeniable that Hornish is a world-class racing driver, he has not forgotten his roots; he still spends his free time bowling and playing poker with his hometown friends and family in Ohio. Like most racers, Sam enjoys anything involving speed. He is an avid motorcycle enthusiast, riding his Harley Davidson “Fat Boy”, Big Dog Motorcycle or Honda CBR1000RR whenever he has a chance, and recently developed an interest in boats. Sam is currently customizing his 1967 and 2003 Chevrolet pick-ups in his 5,400 square foot garage in Defiance, Ohio. His other cars include a 2006 Acura RL; a 2005 GMC Sierra; a 1955 Chevrolet Del Ray, a 1977 Kenworth W900-A semi truck, a 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV and a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z-06 commemorating his Indy 500 win. Hornish married Crystal Liechty in Indianapolis on June 5, 2004. The couple reside in Napoleon. His racing heroes include Rick Mears and Danny Sullivan.