Busch leader heading to Richmond, after all

Last-minute deal keeps Bodine's team alive, for now

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Only a few hours after a frustrated Tony Liberati said it was unlikely Herzog Jackson Motorsports would compete in this weekend's NASCAR Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway because of a lack of sponsorship, the team and its transporter were headed north, after all.

	Todd Bodine

An 11th-hour deal appears to be coming together to keep Bodine and the No. 92 team going, and Bodine should be able to try to keep the Busch Series points lead in Friday's Hardee's 250.

A one-race sponsorship is in the works for Herzog Jackson Motorsports, a team source said early Wednesday evening. More should be known early Thursday, but the team decided to pack up its Chevrolet and head to Richmond just in case.

Qualifying for Friday night's race is schedule for 4 p.m. ET Thursday. The team headed out of its Charlotte, N.C. shop late Wednesday afternoon, only a few hours after Liberati, the team's crew chief, said it "doesn't look too likely" the team would run Richmond.

Bodine has driven the No. 92 without sponsorship all season but still managed to lead the points standings since his victory at Darlington Raceway five races ago.

"We have to get some money," Liberati said earlier. "We're working the phone as hard as we can. We're calling people up and giving them the bargain of the century to get on the first-place car for not a whole lot of money."

Published reports Wednesday said that the team had acquired a four-race deal, but that doesn't not appear likely.

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Bodine leads Ron Hornaday by 99 points after nine races. In addition to the one victory, Bodine has four top-five and six top-10 finishes. He was third at Rockingham, fourth at Texas and fifth last week at California.

Even if the sponsor fell through and Bodine was forced to miss the race, he would remain in contention. There are a maximum of 185 points to the winner of the race, meaning the worst Bodine could do would be 86 points behind Hornaday.

Despite the money troubles, Liberati has been confident in his team.

"I know I've got a car ready, I've got a backup car ready, I've got the best crew on pit road and I've got a driver capable of winning the race," Liberati said.

Now, it appears likely Liberati will have a sponsor.