Here they are again.

When the NASCAR Truck Series debuted in 1995, it was primarily run on short tracks and a couple road courses scattered in unfamiliar places around the country. Mike Skinner dominated the first season, winning eight races on his way to the inaugural series championship.

To win the title, Skinner had to hold off a hot shoe from California named Ron Hornaday, already a veteran of short tracks, who carried that ability to Trucks along with a flair for the road courses. He ultimately finished third in the standings.

Now a dozen years later, Skinner and Hornaday find themselves locked in another fiercely contested championship battle. This time, Hornaday hopes to gain the upper hand.

“I wish we could see into the future. The way the NASCAR Truck Series is and with what NASCAR has done with the rules, it’s going to come right down to the wire again,” Hornaday said.

The 1995 title is Skinner’s only NASCAR championship. Hornaday won the Trucks title in 1996 and 1998. He is looking to join Jack Sprague as the only drivers with three championships, while at the same time trying to hand Kevin Harvick Inc. its first.

Hornaday took the points lead for the first time following the Sept. 1 race at St. Louis. He held it two weeks then lost it with a 22nd place finish at Las Vegas.

He trails Skinner by three points entering Saturday’s Mountain Dew 250 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and six races left to decide the title.

“We’ve already got a rivalry going, a small one, so we can’t start too much right now. It’s going to take someone messing up,” Hornaday said.