The Buzz: October 8, 2002

The Buzz has learned that Mike Bliss may be the leading candidate to fill in for fill-in Jamie McMurray in the No. 40 Dodge at Martinsville Speedway later this month.

	Mike Bliss

McMurray won't be available to drive for the injured Sterling Marlin on Oct. 20 because of prior obligations to his full-time Busch Series ride, which will be running at Memphis that weekend.

Other drivers reportedly under consideration for the one-race deal are Rich Bickle and driver-turned-broadcaster Darrell Waltrip.

Bliss, currently leading the Craftsman Truck Series standings with five wins and 14 top-10s in 18 starts, last drove a Pontiac for Jack Birmingham during the 2000 Winston Cup season. In 29 career Winston Cup starts, he has one top-10 finish, a ninth in the 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega.

McMurray finished 26th in last weekend's EA SPORTS 500, but was running in the lead pack for most of the day.