Hamilton sets Lowe's as target for return

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Still nursing injuries from an accident in a Truck Series race at Richmond, Bobby Hamilton is shooting for a return to Winston Cup racing in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway next month.

	Bobby Hamilton

Hamilton has been undergoing therapy for his injuries. In addition, he's been working with doctors to make a pair of devices to protect his shoulder and wrist from additional injury.

"(My shoulder) is healing fine and is actually at 100 percent, but we take the chance that it's not strong enough to withhold pressure in a wreck," Hamilton said this week. "It's not worth taking the chance to ruin my career just for one race."

While Greg Biffle continues to fill in for Hamilton at Kansas Speedway this weekend, Hamilton is hoping the weather will cooperate enough for him to take some laps in one of his trucks at Nashville to test the shoulder and wrist devices.

"There are no straps or anything, just a hard protective shield to cover my wrist," he said. "It was like a gel that they put on my wrist and then we put it in hot water. It got harder as it sat in the water.

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"It's split at the top, but it takes two hands to pry it open so I can get my wrist out. The shoulder harness is like a shield. It was made by doctors that help hockey and football players recover from injuries. I'm going to use it at the test next week and see how it works."

Hamilton admits he's getting antsy to slip back behind the steering wheel.

"I know I'm ready to get back in that car," he said. "Every week I feel better. After every therapy session I know I'm one step closer to racing that car. The first week I was all right watching it on TV from home, but I must have been on some big pain medicine or something, because it's hard to do it now."

In addition to having a replacement driver this weekend, the team will also have a substitute crew chief. Team owner Andy Petree will step into the role for Jimmy Elledge, who was suspended for one week by NASCAR for a probation violation.