Mast still out as team searches for funding

RICHMOND, Va. -- Rick Mast continues to rest at home while a battery of doctors try to determine the nature of a mysterious illness that has sidelined him for the last month.

Hermie Sadler will drive Junie Donlavey's No. 90 Duke's/Sauer's Ford at Michigan while Mast remains sidelined. Sadler also plans to make his first Busch Series start of the season this weekend at Kentucky in his own No. 02 Little Trees Chevrolet.

If it weren't for a serious drought in central Virginia, Mast would certainly have one of the best yards going. He has yet to get an answer to a mysterious medical condition that has left him losing weight and fatigued -- and out of the seat of the car since May 18 at the Winston Open at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"I'm feeling about the same -- going through more tests and they've got nothing to show up yet," Mast said. "I've been to Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond for tests -- I've kind of lost track.

"They did do an MRI of my head and found a little brain there, so that was a positive sign (but) we'll just have to wait and see."

Former All-Pro driver Gary Bradberry of Chelsea, Ala., who also has limited Busch Series and Winston Cup experience, will practice and qualify Sadler's car at Kentucky while the Virginian drives Donlavey's car in two Saturday practices at MIS.

Donlavey's team manager, Jason Hedlesky, said that this weekend's Sirius 400 might be the last time this season Sauer's, a Richmond, Va., company is on the car -- though that decision is not final.

The team will not go west for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 at Sears Point Raceway but will return to the series for the July 6 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.